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.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter communicating the proposed fee adjustment, pending a comprehensive review of the policy.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the decision was taken after considering reactions and constructive feedback from Nigerians.
According to the ministry, the proposed increase was initially prompted by the country’s economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations.
It explained that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, subsequently 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 decision reflects its resolve to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families undergo broad consultation before implementation.
As part of the review process, the ministry said it would engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other key partners.
According to the statement, the consultations are intended to ensure that any future decision on examination fees is fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing economic conditions while safeguarding access to education.
The ministry stressed that the proposed fee increase would not take effect until consultations are concluded and a final decision is reached.
It also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, while thanking parents, students and other stakeholders for their patience and continued support.
