FG suspends planned increase in WAEC, NECO registration fees

The federal government has suspended its proposed 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 public concerns over the planned increase.

The decision was announced in a statement on Sunday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade.

According to the ministry, the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for broader consultations with key stakeholders before a final decision is taken.

The ministry said it acknowledged the concerns and constructive feedback from Nigerians on the proposed review.

“The letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement said.

It explained that the proposed increase was necessitated by rising operational costs associated with conducting credible national examinations, noting that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing expenses.

According to the ministry, the costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other critical services have risen significantly over the years.

However, the 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 and evidence-based policymaking.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.”