The Federal Government has put on hold 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 reactions.
In a statement released on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that it has withdrawn its earlier communication dated June 18, 2026, which proposed raising the examination fee from N27,500 to N50,000 per candidate.
The ministry explained that the withdrawal is intended to create room for wider consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is made on the proposed fee review.
Speaking through the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the government said the proposal will undergo a comprehensive reassessment to ensure that all concerned parties have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion.
If implemented, the proposed adjustment would have increased the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations by about 82 percent, with the new rate expected to take effect in 2027.
According to the ministry, the planned review was driven by the rising cost of administering public examinations nationwide. It noted that expenses related to logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology, quality assurance and other essential operations have increased significantly over the years, while examination fees have remained largely unchanged.
Despite these financial pressures, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has directed that the proposal be suspended until extensive consultations are completed.
The ministry emphasized that no new examination fee has been approved and that the current registration fee will remain in place until a final decision is reached.
As part of the consultation process, the Federal Government will engage key stakeholders, including WAEC and NECO officials, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education experts and other interested groups.
The ministry reaffirmed that the government is committed to making policies that are transparent, inclusive and in the best interest of Nigerian students and their families. It added that public feedback will play an important role in determining any future changes to examination registration fees.
The Federal Ministry of Education also assured Nigerians that updates will be provided as discussions progress and before any decision is taken on the proposed fee adjustment.
