The Federal Government has approved a new uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), with the revised fee taking effect from the 2027 examination cycle.
The approval was conveyed in a June 18, 2026 circular signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, following a request by WAEC for a review of its examination registration fee.
According to the ministry, the decision followed a meeting held on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and representatives of the country’s examination bodies, where participants reviewed the rising cost of conducting the Senior School Certificate Examinations.
At the meeting, the minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a harmonised registration fee for their respective SSCE examinations.
The circular stated: “You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31 March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE.”
It further noted that the minister had approved ₦50,000 as the new examination fee per candidate, with implementation commencing from the 2027 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (Internal). The directive also applies to WAEC under the new harmonised fee arrangement.
The newly approved fee represents a sharp increase from the current charges, with candidates presently paying about ₦27,500 to register for the examinations. The adjustment amounts to an increase of more than 80 per cent, making it one of the most significant revisions to public examination fees in recent years.
The Ministry of Education directed NECO and other relevant stakeholders to begin preparations for the implementation of the new policy ahead of the 2027 examination season.
The announcement has already sparked discussions among parents, education stakeholders and school proprietors, many of whom have expressed concern over the financial implications of the increase amid the country’s prevailing economic challenges. Some stakeholders fear the higher registration fee could place additional pressure on families and state governments that sponsor candidates for external examinations.
However, education officials maintain that the upward review became necessary due to the increasing cost of organising nationwide examinations and the need to establish a uniform pricing framework for both WAEC and NECO.
The government believes the harmonised fee will support the sustainable administration of the Senior School Certificate Examinations while ensuring both examination bodies continue to deliver credible and efficient assessment services across the country.
