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, pending broader consultations with key stakeholders.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which confirmed that its June 18, 2026 circular conveying the proposed fee adjustment had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is made.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the suspension followed concerns and feedback from members of the public over the planned increase.
“The Federal Ministry of Education announces that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the ministry stated.
According to the ministry, the proposed fee review was necessitated by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations. It noted that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
The ministry cited escalating costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to maintain the integrity and credibility of public examinations.
It said the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, 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 statement added.
The ministry said the decision reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that policies affecting students and their families are carefully considered and aligned with the public interest.
It disclosed that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners before any decision is taken.
Consequently, the proposed adjustment to examination registration fees will not take effect until the consultation process is completed.
The ministry reaffirmed that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda, pledging to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process.
The suspended proposal had approved a new registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the 2027 WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations, representing an 82 per cent increase from the current fee of N27,500.
The proposed adjustment was contained in a June 18, 2026 circular signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, following a request by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for an upward review of examination fees from 2027.
