Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has hailed the Federal Government’s suspension of the proposed increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees, describing the reversal as proof of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s poor policy formulation and disconnect from the realities of ordinary Nigerians.
Atiku said the decision to back down after widespread public criticism vindicated the concerns earlier raised by Nigerians, warning that any attempt to make public examinations unaffordable for struggling families would deepen educational inequality and worsen the country’s out-of-school children crisis.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, the opposition leader said the U-turn amounted to a victory for millions of parents, students, civil society organisations and other stakeholders who resisted the planned fee hike.
He argued that the proposed increase would have placed another heavy financial burden on families already grappling with inflation, rising transport costs, high electricity tariffs and declining purchasing power across the country.
According to him, the episode had once again exposed what he described as a troubling pattern in the present administration’s style of governance, in which harsh policies are announced without adequate consultation, only to be withdrawn when public outrage becomes overwhelming.
“Governing is not a laboratory for reckless experimentation,” he said, insisting that sound governments consult before they decide rather than subjecting citizens to avoidable anxiety and uncertainty.
Atiku said the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the hike had shown the power of public accountability, commending parents, teachers, labour organisations, student groups, education stakeholders and other Nigerians who spoke out against the policy.
He, however, warned that the suspension should not end the debate over the funding of the examination bodies, urging the government to engage stakeholders and develop a sustainable model for WAEC and NECO without shifting the cost to poor families.
The former vice president said responsible leadership required foresight, consultation and sensitivity to the plight of citizens, rather than repeated reversals after avoidable policy errors had already been made.
He accused the government of developing a habit of announcing “anti-people” policies first and listening only after Nigerians had cried out, saying that such an approach reflected weak leadership and poor governance.
Atiku also linked the controversy to the 2027 general election, saying Nigerians would soon have the opportunity to choose between what he described as an administration driven by trial and error and a leadership style grounded in experience and national responsibility.
He maintained that Nigeria, as a country of great importance, should not be run like a laboratory for endless experimentation, stressing that citizens deserved a government that listens before acting and consults before deciding.
The Federal Government had earlier suspended the proposed increase in examination registration fees after a backlash from education stakeholders, civil society groups and members of the public.