The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), following widespread criticism from parents, education stakeholders and members of the public.
The decision, announced on Monday, July 13, 2026, comes just days after reports emerged that candidates would begin paying ₦50,000 each for the examinations from the 2027 academic session.
In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the government confirmed that it had withdrawn its earlier circular dated June 18, 2026, which approved the proposed fee review.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, explained that the suspension would allow for wider consultations before any final decision is taken on the proposed increase.
According to the ministry, the move reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent and inclusive policymaking, particularly on issues that directly affect millions of Nigerian students and their families.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns expressed by parents, school owners, labour unions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders over the proposed adjustment,” the statement noted.
It added that the government would engage critical stakeholders, including WAEC, NECO, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents’ associations, organised labour and education experts, to review the proposal and consider all viewpoints before reaching a final decision.
The ministry explained that the proposed fee adjustment was initially informed by the increasing cost of conducting nationwide examinations. It cited rising expenses in logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other operational requirements needed to maintain the credibility of the country’s public examinations.
However, following strong public reactions, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold pending further consultations.
The ministry stressed that no new examination fee has been approved and clarified that the proposed ₦50,000 registration charge will not take effect until the review process is concluded.
The suspension follows intense public debate after the earlier proposal suggested raising the examination fee from the current rate of about ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 per candidate beginning with the 2027 SSCE. Many parents and education advocates argued that the increase would place additional financial pressure on households already grappling with the country’s economic challenges.
Several state governments, which sponsor WAEC and NECO registration fees for students in public secondary schools, also expressed concerns that the proposed increase could significantly raise education spending.
Despite suspending the proposal, the Federal Government maintained that ensuring the long-term sustainability and credibility of public examinations remains a priority. It assured Nigerians that any future decision would strike a balance between maintaining examination standards and protecting access to affordable education.
The ministry further pledged to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process, reaffirming that the welfare of students and the promotion of quality education remain central to the administration’s education reforms.
