By Oscar Okhifo
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), following widespread public opposition to the planned hike.
The decision came barely 24 hours after reports of the proposed increase sparked criticism from parents, students, labour unions, civil society organisations and opposition figures, who argued that the move would deepen the financial strain on millions of Nigerian families already grappling with rising living costs.
Announcing the suspension on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education said it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 circular conveying the proposed fee review.
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 that the proposal be put on hold to allow for wider consultations with key stakeholders.
“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 adjustment was driven by the rising cost of administering public examinations, including increased spending on logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other operational requirements.
Despite the explanation, the proposal attracted widespread criticism, with many Nigerians describing the planned increase as insensitive in light of the country’s prevailing economic challenges.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was among prominent voices that urged the Federal Government to reverse the decision.
Public opposition also dominated several radio phone-in programmes across the country, where callers warned that higher examination fees could deny thousands of children from low-income families access to secondary school leaving examinations.
One caller, Wole Segun, argued that a worker earning the national minimum wage would struggle to pay the registration fee for even one child, adding that families with multiple candidates could be forced to choose which child would sit the examinations.
Another caller questioned the government’s priorities, saying it was difficult to justify increasing examination fees while public funds continued to be spent on activities such as pilgrimage sponsorship.
Victoria, who called from Lokogoma in the Federal Capital Territory, expressed concern that the proposed increase would push more children out of school.
“So many poor homes will withdraw their children. It appears designed to keep children from low-income families out of higher education,” she said.
Many callers urged the government not only to abandon the proposed increase but also to consider reducing the current examination fees to ease the burden on parents.
Although many Nigerians welcomed the suspension, they maintained that the proposed increase should be permanently scrapped rather than merely postponed.
The Ministry of Education said it would now engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents’ associations, organised labour and other relevant stakeholders before taking a final decision.
Boriowo stressed that no review of WAEC and NECO registration fees would take effect until the consultation process had been concluded.
“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 preserving 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 and assured Nigerians that no increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees would be implemented without broad consensus.