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) to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the suspension followed concerns and constructive feedback from Nigerians regarding access to quality education and the potential impact of the proposed increase on students and their families.
In a press release issued on Monday, by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry disclosed that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn pending a comprehensive review and consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was informed by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations.
It noted that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance services.
According to the ministry, the Minister of Education, Maruf 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 further stated that it would engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before taking any final decision.
It emphasized that any future decision on examination fees would be designed to be fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing economic conditions while safeguarding access to education.
The ministry also reassured Nigerians that the welfare of students and equitable access to quality education remained central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the education sector.
It added that the proposed review of examination registration fees would not take effect pending the conclusion of the consultation process and pledged to keep the public informed throughout the review.