The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following widespread public concern over the planned hike.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which confirmed the withdrawal of its June 18, 2026 letter that had proposed the fee adjustment.
The statement, signed by the ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the suspension would allow for a comprehensive review of the proposal and extensive consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is made.
"The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken," the statement said.
The proposed policy would have increased the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 starting in 2027, representing an 82 per cent rise.
According to the ministry, the proposed increase was necessitated by the escalating cost of administering public examinations nationwide. It explained that examination fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite rising operational expenses.
The ministry cited increasing costs associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services as factors placing significant financial pressure on examination bodies.
However, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that implementation of the proposed increase be suspended pending wider consultations.
"The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government's commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking," the statement added.
The ministry emphasized that no adjustment to examination fees would be implemented until consultations with key stakeholders are concluded.
It disclosed that the consultation process would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents' associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, the ministry said any policy affecting students and their families must undergo thorough public scrutiny and reflect the broader public interest.
It also assured Nigerians that students' welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain at the heart of the Federal Government's education agenda, while pledging to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process before reaching a final decision on the proposed fee review.
