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), pending a comprehensive review and wider stakeholder consultations.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the Ministry, the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for broader consultations before any final decision is reached.
The Ministry said the decision followed concerns and constructive feedback from members of the public, noting that it appreciated Nigerians’ interest in issues relating to access to quality education.
It explained that the proposed fee review was necessitated by prevailing economic realities and the increasing cost of conducting credible national examinations.
According to the statement, examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational costs, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to safeguard the integrity and credibility of public examinations.
However, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The Ministry stated that the decision reflects its determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered, socially responsive and aligned with the collective interest of the nation.
It added that, as part of the fresh review process, extensive consultations would be held with examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners.
The consultations, according to the Ministry, are aimed at ensuring that any future decision on examination registration fees is fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to current realities while protecting access to education.
Consequently, the Ministry confirmed that the proposed increase in examination registration fees will not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation process is completed.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to education, the Ministry said the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector.
The Ministry also thanked Nigerians and other stakeholders for their understanding, patience and continued support, assuring that the public would be kept informed throughout the consultation process.
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