FG Backs Down On N50,000 Examination Fees, Orders Fresh Review
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, following widespread public concerns.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the suspension in a statement on Monday, withdrawing a June 18, 2026 letter that had conveyed the proposed fee adjustment. The ministry said the decision allows for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
The suspension comes less than 48 hours after the ministry approved an 82 per cent hike that would have raised WAEC fees from ₦27,000 to ₦50,000 and NECO fees from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000 per candidate, effective from 2027. The approval, conveyed in a memo signed by Director of Senior Secondary Education Adeniji Ibrahim, followed a March 31, 2026 meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies where the need for an upward review was discussed.
Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking. The ministry listed logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services as major cost drivers behind the proposed adjustment.
The planned increase had drawn sharp criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), and the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), who warned it would worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis. Atiku described the measure as economically insensitive and inconsistent with the government’s constitutional obligation to make education accessible.
The ministry stressed that the proposed increase would not take effect until the consultation process is concluded, adding that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the education agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.