The Federal Government has suspended the 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 following widespread criticism from students, parents and education stakeholders.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter proposing the fee adjustment to allow for wider consultations before any final decision is taken. The ministry said the suspension followed a directive by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as part of the government’s commitment to transparent and inclusive policymaking.
According to the ministry, although the proposed increase was driven by rising costs of conducting national examinations—including logistics, security, printing, technology deployment and quality assurance—it agreed to suspend the plan to engage stakeholders and review the proposal.
The ministry said consultations would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders to ensure any future decision is fair, transparent and sustainable.
It also clarified that the proposed increase would not take effect until the consultation process is completed, reaffirming that student welfare and access to quality education remain priorities under the Federal Government’s education agenda.
Atiku, Obi welcome reversal
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, welcomed the suspension but criticised the government for introducing the policy without adequate consultation.
He described the reversal as a victory for parents, students, labour unions and civil society groups, arguing that government policies should be based on dialogue rather than public outrage.
Atiku also urged the Federal Government to develop a sustainable funding model for WAEC and NECO without transferring additional financial burdens to families already facing economic hardship.
Similarly, Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi described the suspension as a victory for Nigerians, saying the proposed fee increase would have placed unnecessary pressure on struggling families.
Obi stressed that education is a fundamental right and should not become unaffordable, urging the government to prioritise expanding access to education instead of creating financial barriers for students.
Labour Party chieftain commends decision
Labour Party governorship aspirant in Imo State, Ifeanyi Ezeagu, also praised the suspension, describing it as a timely intervention that would ease the financial burden on millions of parents and students.
He said the decision demonstrated sensitivity to prevailing economic realities and would help ensure that no student is denied access to secondary education because of financial constraints.
The proposed increase, which would have raised examination registration fees from ₦27,000 to ₦50,000, had attracted widespread opposition from students’ groups, parents, education advocates and political leaders before the Federal Government suspended the plan pending further consultations.
