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 criticism from Nigerians.
The decision comes weeks after the proposal sparked outrage among parents, students, education stakeholders and civil society groups, many of whom warned that the increase would place an additional financial burden on families already struggling with the country’s rising cost of living.
Announcing the development on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education said it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 circular on the proposed fee review and would instead embark on extensive consultations before taking any final decision.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the government acknowledged the concerns raised by Nigerians, saying the feedback received had informed the decision to suspend the proposal.
The ministry explained that the planned adjustment was initially considered necessary because examination fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite soaring operational costs associated with conducting credible public examinations.
According to the ministry, increasing expenses in logistics, security, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance and other essential services made a review of examination fees necessary.
However, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said the suspension would allow for broad consultations with key stakeholders, including examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders.
It noted that the engagement would help ensure that any future decision on examination fees is fair, sustainable and sensitive to Nigeria’s prevailing economic realities while safeguarding access to quality education.
The ministry stressed that no increase in WAEC or NECO registration fees would take effect until the consultation process is concluded and a final decision is reached.
The proposed fee hike had generated strong opposition across the country, with many Nigerians urging the government to prioritise making education more affordable rather than increasing the financial burden on students and their families amid current economic challenges.
Reaffirming its commitment to education, the ministry said the welfare of students, equitable access to quality learning and responsible policymaking remain central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It also thanked parents, students and other stakeholders for their patience and promised to keep the public updated throughout the consultation process.
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