The Federal Government has suspended its proposed upward review of 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 concerns and calls for broader stakeholder engagement.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, communication conveying the proposed fee adjustment, pending a comprehensive review of the policy and consultations with critical stakeholders.
The decision comes after the planned increase generated strong reactions from parents, students, education advocates, labour groups and civil society organisations, many of whom argued that higher examination fees could place additional financial pressure on households already grappling with rising living costs.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the government said the suspension reflects its commitment to ensuring that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students are subjected to broad consultation before implementation.
According to the ministry, the proposed review had been prompted by increasing operational costs associated with conducting credible national examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance and other essential services.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, 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 said.
The ministry explained that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite mounting operational expenses, but stressed that any adjustment must balance financial sustainability with equitable access to education.
As part of the review process, the Federal Government said it would engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, school administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
It also assured Nigerians that no increase in WAEC or NECO registration fees would take effect until the consultation process is completed and a new policy direction is announced.
The ministry reaffirmed that protecting students’ welfare and expanding access to quality education remain central to the Tinubu administration’s education agenda, while expressing appreciation to Nigerians for their constructive feedback and continued engagement on the issue.
The suspension is expected to bring temporary relief to millions of parents preparing candidates for the 2027 examinations, even as stakeholders await the outcome of the government’s planned consultations.
