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 (SSCE) following widespread public opposition.
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The education-drive/">Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision on Monday in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, stating that the earlier proposal had been withdrawn to allow for broader consultations with key stakeholders.
According to the ministry, the letter dated June 18, 2026, which communicated the proposed fee adjustment, has been recalled pending a comprehensive review of the policy.
The suspension followed a directive by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who ordered that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based policymaking.
“The letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the ministry said.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 proposed increase, which would have raised examination registration fees from ₦27,000 to ₦50,000, sparked criticism from students, parents, education stakeholders, labour groups, and civil society organisations, who argued that the new fees would place an additional financial burden on many Nigerian families.
The ministry acknowledged the concerns raised by members of the public, describing the feedback as a reflection of Nigerians’ commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education.
It explained that the proposed review was prompted by the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations, including increased expenses for logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, and other operational requirements.
Despite these challenges, the ministry said the government considered it necessary to suspend the proposal in order to engage stakeholders and develop a more balanced approach.
According to the statement, the review process will involve consultations with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, parents’ associations, organised labour, education experts, and other relevant stakeholders.
The ministry said the consultations are expected to ensure that any future decision on examination registration fees is fair, financially sustainable, and responsive to prevailing economic realities without limiting students’ access to secondary education.
It also reassured Nigerians that no adjustment to WAEC and NECO registration fees would take effect until the consultation process is completed.
The ministry reaffirmed that improving access to quality education and protecting the welfare of students remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme.
Atiku Welcomes Suspension, Criticises Policy Process
Reacting to the development, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar welcomed the suspension but criticised the Federal Government for introducing the proposal without adequate consultation.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the reversal as a victory for parents, students, labour unions, civil society organisations, and other Nigerians who opposed the planned increase.
While commending the government for suspending the proposal, he questioned why public outrage was required before the decision was reconsidered.
“The suspension is welcome, but it also raises an uncomfortable question: why must this government always wait for public outrage before correcting policies that should never have been conceived in the first place?” he said.
Atiku further argued that effective governance requires broad stakeholder engagement before major policy decisions are announced, urging the government to adopt a more consultative approach to policymaking.
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