The Federal Government has put on hold its planned increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by WAEC and the Senior School Certificate Examination organised by NECO, following widespread reactions from Nigerians.
The decision was announced on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, which disclosed that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 communication proposing the fee adjustment. According to the ministry, the proposal has been suspended pending a thorough review and broader consultations with key stakeholders.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, and obtained by Zoyols News, the government said it carefully considered the concerns and constructive feedback expressed by members of the public over the proposed increase.
The ministry explained that the planned adjustment was initially considered because of the country’s economic challenges and the growing cost of conducting credible national examinations. It noted that examination fees have remained largely unchanged for years despite increasing expenses associated with logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to maintain the credibility of public examinations.
The statement further revealed that the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed the immediate suspension of the proposal in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and evidence based policymaking.
According to the ministry, the decision reflects the government’s resolve to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families are subjected to wide consultation before any final action is taken.
As part of the review process, the ministry said it will engage with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant groups.
It stated that the consultations are intended to ensure that any future decision on examination registration fees is fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing economic conditions while safeguarding access to education for all students.
The ministry emphasised that the proposed fee increase will remain suspended until the consultation process is completed and a final decision is reached.
It also reassured Nigerians that the welfare of students, equal access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain key priorities under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.
The ministry expressed appreciation to parents, students and other stakeholders for their patience, understanding and continued support, while assuring the public that updates will be provided throughout the consultation process.
