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 Senior School Certificate Examination (NECO SSCE), following public concerns over the move.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.
According to the statement, the government has withdrawn its June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment in examination fees.
The ministry said the decision was taken to allow for broader consultations and a fresh review of the proposal 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Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement read.
The proposed increase would have raised the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations from N27,500 to N50,000 beginning in 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase.
The ministry further explained that the proposal was driven by the rising cost of conducting public examinations across the country, stressing that examination fees have remained largely unchanged for years despite significant increases in operational expenses.
It identified logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other critical services as major factors contributing to the growing cost of organising the examination.
According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that implementation of the proposed increase be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry stressed that no adjustment to examination fees would take effect until discussions with stakeholders are concluded.
It noted that consultations would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners.
The statement added that the government remains committed to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are subjected to adequate scrutiny and reflect public interest.
Reaffirming its position, the ministry said students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda.
The ministry also pledged to keep Nigerians informed throughout the consultation process before any decision is reached on the proposed fee review.
