By Idriss LAWAL
In apparent reaction to the yearning of Nigerians, the Nigeria 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(SSCE).The Federal Ministry of Education noted that the letter dated 18 June 2026 proposing the fee adjustment has been withdrawn to allow a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
The government said this in a statement on Monday, signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education.
ALSO READ: New WAEC fee will swell Nigeria out-of-school children, warns Atiku
The statement read, “The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education.
“The proposed review was informed by the prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations. The current 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 maintain the integrity and credibility of public examinations across the country.
“Nevertheless, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.”
“As part of the fresh review process, the Ministry will engage extensively with examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders, and other critical partners to ensure that any future decision is fair, sustainable, transparent, and responsive to prevailing realities, while safeguarding access to education.
“Accordingly, the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as previously communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process.
