The Federal Government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (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The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter communicating the proposed fee adjustment pending a comprehensive review of the policy.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 ministry said the decision followed reactions from Nigerians and acknowledged the public’s concerns and constructive feedback on the matter.
According to the ministry, the proposed fee review was initially driven by the country’s economic realities and the increasing cost of conducting credible national examinations.
It explained that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite rising operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance, and other critical services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
However, the 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 said the decision reflected its determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families are subjected to broad consultation and carefully considered before implementation.
As part of the fresh 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.
The ministry added that the consultations would ensure that any future decision on examination fees is fair, sustainable, transparent, and responsive to prevailing economic realities while protecting access to education.
It stressed that the proposed increase would not take effect until the consultation process had been concluded and a final decision reached.
Reassuring Nigerians of the government’s commitment to education, the ministry said the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking remain central to 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, pledging to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process.
NAN
