FG Suspends Proposed ₦50,000 WAEC, NECO Registration Fee Increase

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 (SSCE) following widespread public criticism.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced the suspension in a statement issued on Monday, saying it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 directive approving the proposed fee adjustment pending a comprehensive review.

The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the decision was taken in response to concerns raised by Nigerians over the planned increase and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education.

The ministry explained that the proposed policy would have increased the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations to ₦50,000 per candidate beginning from the 2027 examination cycle, representing a significant rise from the current fees.

It assured the public that the government would engage all relevant stakeholders before taking any final decision on the proposed examination fees.

The ministry urged Nigerians to remain calm, assuring that any future decision on the matter would be guided by extensive consultations and the overall interest of students and the education sector.