Education Ministry Withdraws Proposed 2027 Fee Increase, Begins Wider Stakeholder Consultations
The Federal Government has suspended the 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 public criticism.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the proposal, which sought to raise the examination fee to ₦50,000 from the current ₦27,500, has been placed on hold pending consultations with key stakeholders.
In a statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the proposed fee review was attributed to rising operational costs associated with conducting public examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, and quality assurance.
According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based policymaking.
The Ministry said the decision reflects the government’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered and socially responsive.
It added that consultations will be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents’ associations, organised labour, and other education stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
The Ministry also reassured Nigerians that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda.
As a result, the proposed ₦50,000 registration fee for the 2027 WAEC and NECO examinations will not take effect until the consultation process is concluded.
