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 (SSCE), pending broader consultations with education stakeholders.
The decision followed public reactions to an earlier proposal that sought to raise the examination fee from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the examinations from 2027.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the ministry announced that the June 18, 2026 letter communicating the proposed fee review had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and wider engagement with relevant stakeholders before any final decision is reached.
According to the ministry, the proposed adjustment was necessitated by rising operational costs associated with conducting national examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said consultations would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders to ensure any future decision reflects the interests of Nigerians.
It stressed that the proposed fee review would not take effect until the consultation process is completed, adding that students’ welfare, equitable access to education and responsible policy decisions remain key priorities of the government.
The earlier proposal had attracted criticism from several groups, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who opposed the planned increase in examination fees.
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