The Federal Government has suspended its 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), bowing to widespread public opposition that greeted the plan.
The decision, announced on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, came less than 24 hours after reports of the planned fee review sparked criticism from parents, students, labour unions, civil society organisations and opposition figures, who argued that the increase would place an additional financial burden on millions of Nigerian families already grappling with rising living costs.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed the immediate suspension of the June 18, 2026 circular that communicated the proposed fee adjustment.
According to the ministry, the suspension is intended to pave the way for extensive consultations with key stakeholders, underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has directed that the proposed review be placed on hold pending broader consultations with stakeholders,” the statement said.
The ministry explained that the proposed increase was driven by the rising cost of administering credible public examinations, including higher expenses on logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other operational requirements.
Despite the explanation, the proposal attracted widespread condemnation, with many Nigerians describing it as insensitive amid the country’s prevailing economic challenges.
Among those who opposed the planned increase was former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who urged the Federal Government to reverse the proposal.
Public opposition was also evident during Morning Crossfire, the audience participation programme on 95.1 Nigeria Info, Abuja, where callers overwhelmingly rejected the proposed fee hike.
One caller, Wole Segun, warned that a worker earning the national minimum wage would struggle to pay the examination fee for even one child, adding that families with multiple candidates might be forced to choose which child would be allowed to sit the examinations.
Another caller questioned the government’s priorities, arguing that increasing examination fees while public funds continue to support activities such as pilgrimage sponsorship sends the wrong message.
“A government that sees nothing wrong with sponsoring pilgrimage is taxing the life out of the poor just for children to write basic examinations. This is weird and worrisome,” the caller said.
Victoria, who called from Lokogoma in the Federal Capital Territory, expressed concern that many children from low-income families could be forced out of school if the increase was implemented.
“So many poor homes will drop their children. It is a well-laid plan to keep the children of the poor out of schools, especially higher education,” she said.
Nearly all callers on the programme urged the government not only to abandon the proposed increase but to consider reducing existing examination fees to ease the financial pressure on parents.
While many welcomed the government’s decision to suspend the proposal, they insisted that the planned increase should be shelved permanently to prevent additional hardship.
The Ministry of Education said consultations would now be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents’ associations, organised labour and other relevant stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
Boriowo stressed that no adjustment to WAEC and NECO registration fees would take effect until the consultation process is completed.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” she said.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education while maintaining the credibility, integrity and sustainability of Nigeria’s public examination system.
It added that the outcome of the stakeholder consultations would guide the government’s final decision, assuring Nigerians that no fee review would be implemented without broad consensus.