The Federal Government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following widespread public concerns over the planned increase.
According to a report by Nigerian Political News, the Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter communicating the proposed fee adjustment to allow for a comprehensive review and extensive consultations with stakeholders.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry said it had taken note of the concerns and constructive feedback expressed by Nigerians regarding the proposal.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was prompted by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations. It noted that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational costs associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance and other essential services.
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 ministry stated that the suspension reflects the government’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families are subjected to broad consultation before implementation.
As part of the review process, the ministry said it would engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners.
It added that the consultations would ensure any future decision on examination registration fees is fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing economic realities while protecting access to education.
The ministry stressed that the proposed fee review would not take effect until the consultation process had been concluded and a final decision reached.
It reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of students, ensuring equitable access to quality education and pursuing responsible policymaking in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.
The ministry also thanked parents, students and other stakeholders for their understanding, patience and continued support, assuring the public that it would keep Nigerians informed throughout the consultation process.
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