FG Shelves Planned WASSCE, NECO Fee Hike, Begins Stakeholder Consultations
The Federal Government has suspended its 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) after public outcry over the planned adjustment.
The decision was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade.
According to the ministry, the June 18, 2026 letter notifying stakeholders of the proposed fee review has been withdrawn to pave the way for wider consultations and a thorough reassessment before any final decision is taken.
The ministry said the move followed feedback from Nigerians, reaffirming the government’s commitment to making education policies inclusive, evidence-based and sensitive to the needs of citizens.
It explained that the proposed fee increase was driven by rising costs associated with conducting credible national examinations, noting that registration fees had remained largely unchanged for years despite growing operational expenses.
The ministry listed key cost drivers to include logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance.
It also disclosed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, ordered the suspension of the proposal.
According to the statement, the decision reflects the ministry’s resolve to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families are carefully evaluated and aligned with the public interest.
The ministry said it would engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before taking any decision on the proposed review.
It stressed that no adjustment to the registration fees for the 2027 WASSCE and NECO SSCE would be implemented until the consultation process is completed.
