FG Withdraws Proposed ₦50,000 WAEC, NECO Registration Fee

Federal Government withdraws fee review proposal, cites need for broader stakeholder consultations.

The Federal Government has suspended the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination scheduled to take effect from 2027.

The decision was announced by the Federal Ministry of Education in a statement issued on July 13, 2026. According to the ministry, the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and wider consultations with relevant stakeholders.

The ministry stated that the proposed fee review was prompted by rising operational costs associated with conducting national examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, and quality assurance.

According to the statement, 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 noted that consultations would be conducted with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, administrators, parents' associations, organised labour, and other education stakeholders before any final decision is taken.

The proposed adjustment had earlier increased the examination registration fee from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 for candidates sitting for WAEC and NECO examinations from 2027, representing an increase of about 82 percent.

The proposal attracted reactions from various stakeholders, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who expressed concerns over the potential impact of the increase on students and their families.

The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to students' welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking, assuring the public that updates would be provided as the consultation process progresses.