Keypoints
- The Federal Government has suspended the proposed N50,000 WAEC and NECO registration fee for 2027.
- The proposed fee represented an 82% increase from the previous N27,500 registration cost.
- The Ministry of Education withdrew the June 18 fee adjustment notice following public concerns.
- Government will consult examination bodies, parents, labour groups and education stakeholders before taking a final decision.
Main Story
The Federal Government has suspended the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination and National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination, following public concerns over the planned 82% hike.
The government had approved a uniform N50,000 examination fee for secondary school candidates from 2027, up from N27,500.
However, the Federal Ministry of Education said the proposal had now been placed on hold pending broader consultations with education stakeholders.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment had been withdrawn for a comprehensive review.
The ministry said the decision followed feedback and concerns raised by members of the public over the financial implications of the proposed increase for students and families.
The fee review was initially proposed amid rising costs associated with conducting national examinations.
According to the ministry, expenses linked to logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance have increased significantly, while examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years.
The earlier approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of Senior School Certificate Examination fees from 2027.
The Issues
The proposed increase from N27,500 to N50,000 represented an additional N22,500 per candidate and an 82% rise in examination costs.
The planned adjustment raised concerns about affordability and access to education, particularly for households already facing elevated living and schooling costs.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students were among those who opposed the proposed uniform fee.
The government, however, maintains that examination bodies face higher operational costs required to protect the credibility and integrity of national examinations.
This leaves policymakers with the challenge of balancing rising examination expenses with the need to keep public education assessments affordable for Nigerian families.
What’s Being Said
“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 ministry said.
The ministry added that the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the 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,” the statement said.
What’s Next
The Federal Government is expected to begin consultations with WAEC, NECO, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders.
The proposed N50,000 registration fee will not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation and review process is concluded.
The Ministry of Education said it would keep the public informed as discussions progress and a final decision is reached.
Bottom Line
The suspension temporarily shields secondary school candidates and their families from an 82% increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees. However, the rising cost of conducting national examinations means the debate over examination funding and affordability is likely to remain a major education policy issue.
