FG Suspends Proposed WAEC, NECO Registration Fee Hike
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
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 public concerns over the planned adjustment.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade.
According to the ministry, the letter conveying the proposed fee review, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to pave the way for wider consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is reached.
“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement said.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was informed by the increasing cost of administering national examinations, noting that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite rising operational expenses.
It identified higher costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other critical services as key factors behind the proposed adjustment.
The statement also disclosed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” the ministry stated.
It added that the suspension reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that policies affecting students, parents and other stakeholders are subjected to broad consultation and careful consideration before implementation.
The ministry assured Nigerians that all relevant stakeholders would be engaged as part of the review process to arrive at a decision that balances the sustainability of examination bodies with the economic realities facing families across the country.
