By Ayomide Otitoju
The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination (NECO SSCE) following concerns raised by Nigerians.
The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement issued on Monday, announced the withdrawal of the June 18, 2026 letter that communicated the proposed fee adjustment, pending further consultations and review.
The ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the decision was taken to allow broader engagement with relevant stakeholders before any final decision is made.
The proposed adjustment would have increased the examination registration fee from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 from 2027, representing an 82 per cent rise.
The ministry explained that the review was being considered due to the rising cost of conducting national examinations, including expenses related to logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, and quality assurance.
However, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the government’s commitment to transparent and inclusive policymaking.
The ministry stated that no increase in examination fees would take effect until consultations are concluded with examination bodies, state education ministries, school owners, parents’ associations, labour groups, and other education stakeholders.
It assured Nigerians that students’ welfare, access to quality education, and public interest remain key priorities in the government’s education policies.
The ministry added that updates would be provided as discussions progress and a final decision is reached on the proposed fee review.
