FG Suspends Planned N50,000 WAEC, NECO Exam Fee Hike After Public Backlash

The Federal Government has put on hold its plan to raise WASSCE and NECO senior secondary examination fees to N50,000, following sustained pushback from parents and education stakeholders. The Federal Ministry of Education confirmed on Monday that it had withdrawn a June 18 letter which had communicated the proposed fee increase, opting instead to widen consultations before making a final decision. The fee hike, which was to take effect from the 2027 examination cycle, would have nearly doubled the current N27,500 charge to a uniform N50,000 for both the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) SSCE. News of the proposal sparked criticism from parents, education advocates and opposition voices, who warned it would put secondary school examinations out of reach for children from poorer households. In its statement, the ministry said the proposed increase had been driven by rising costs of running public examinations, pointing out that fees had stayed largely flat for years even as expenses tied to logistics, security, printing, technology and quality assurance continued to climb. However, Minister of Education Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa has now ordered that the plan be shelved pending broader stakeholder engagement. "The Honourable Minister of Education... has 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, adding that the move reflects its intent to ensure decisions affecting students and families are "socially responsive and reflect the collective interest of the nation." The ministry said it would now engage examination bodies, state education ministries, school proprietors, parents' groups, labour unions and other stakeholders before arriving at a final position. "The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process," it stated. It further reassured Nigerians that student welfare and equitable access to education remain central to President Bola Tinubu's education agenda under the Renewed Hope framework. No new timeline has been given for when the consultation process, or a revised proposal, might be concluded.