The Federal Government has approved a new registration fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), with the new rate taking effect from 2027.
The new fee represents an increase of about 82 per cent from the current registration fee of ₦27,500, meaning parents and guardians will pay ₦50,000 to register each candidate for either examination.
The approval was contained in a statement dated June 18 and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Adeniji Ibrahim.
According to the statement, the decision followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the SSCE registration fee.
Ibrahim explained that the approval was reached after a meeting held on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and representatives of the examination bodies, during which the need to review examination fees was discussed.
He added that the minister also directed WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform registration fee for the Senior School Certificate Examinations.
The increase has, however, sparked criticism from students, parents and opposition figures, who argue that the new fee could place additional financial pressure on many households.
