By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Government has suspended its proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following public concerns and plans for wider stakeholder consultations.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn pending a comprehensive review of the proposal.
According to the ministry, the suspension is intended to allow for broader engagement with key stakeholders before any final decision is taken on examination registration fees.
The ministry acknowledged the concerns and feedback expressed by Nigerians, noting that the public response highlights the importance of ensuring access to affordable and quality education.
It explained that the proposed fee review was initially driven by rising operational costs associated with conducting credible national examinations.
These costs, the ministry said, include logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
However, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, 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 said the decision reflects government’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered and are responsive to prevailing economic realities.
As part of the review process, the ministry said it will engage extensively with examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school owners, education administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other critical stakeholders before arriving at any decision.
It stressed that the proposed review of WAEC and NECO registration fees will not take effect until the consultation process is concluded.
The ministry also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting students’ welfare, expanding equitable access to quality education and implementing responsible education policies under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
It assured Nigerians that the public would be kept informed throughout the consultation process.
