The Federal Government has put on hold 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 government had on Saturday, July 11, 2026, announced plans to raise the registration fees but reversed the decision on Monday, July 13, 2026, pending consultations with key stakeholders.
Under the suspended proposal, candidates sitting for the 2027 examinations would pay a uniform registration fee of ₦50,000, replacing the current charges of ₦27,000 for WAEC and ₦30,000 for NECO.
In a statement issued on Monday July 13, 2026 by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry disclosed that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 circular communicating the proposed adjustment to allow for wider stakeholder engagement before reaching a final decision.
The Ministry explained that the suspension would create room for extensive consultations with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other relevant stakeholders.
According to the statement, the proposed fee adjustment was driven by rising costs involved in organising public examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance.
It noted that examination fees had remained relatively unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
The ministry further stated that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based decision-making.
It emphasised that the proposed increase would not take effect until consultations with stakeholders are completed and a final decision is reached.
The ministry added that the review process is intended to ensure that any future adjustment to examination fees is fair, transparent, financially sustainable and reflective of current economic realities, while protecting access to education for all students.
It also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting students’ welfare and expanding equitable access to quality education, describing the decision as consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.
The ministry thanked Nigerians for their feedback and assured the public that updates would be provided throughout the consultation process.