The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in 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 opposition from parents, education stakeholders and civil society groups.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision on Monday, saying the proposal had been put on hold to allow for broader consultations with key stakeholders before any final decision is made.
The ministry had earlier proposed raising the registration fee for both examinations from the current N27,500 to a uniform N50,000 beginning in 2027, citing the rising cost of conducting public examinations.
In a statement, the ministry said the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed the withdrawal of the June 18 circular conveying the proposed fee adjustment in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
According to the ministry, the proposed increase was informed by escalating operational costs, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance, noting that examination fees had remained largely unchanged despite inflationary pressures.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the statement said.
The ministry added that it would engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents’ associations, organised labour and other stakeholders to ensure that any future decision reflects the collective interest of Nigerians.
It also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting students’ welfare and ensuring equitable access to quality education, stating that any policy affecting millions of Nigerian families would be carefully considered before implementation.
