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 public concerns.
In a statement, the Federal Ministry of Education, through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, announced the withdrawal of the June 18, 2026 circular that introduced the proposed fee adjustment.
She said the decision was taken to allow for broader consultations and a comprehensive review before any final action is taken.
The proposal would have increased the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations from N27,500 to N50,000 from 2027, representing an 82 per cent rise.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was driven by rising costs of conducting public examinations, including expenses for logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology, quality assurance and other operational services.
According to the ministry, Minister of Education Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry stressed that no increase in examination fees would take effect until consultations with key stakeholders were concluded.
It said discussions would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders.
The ministry reaffirmed that the welfare of students and equal access to quality education remain priorities of the Federal Government, adding that Nigerians would be kept informed throughout the consultation process before any final decision is reached.
