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).
The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and wider consultations with relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry acknowledged the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public, expressing appreciation for Nigerians’ interest in issues affecting access to quality education.
The ministry explained that the proposed fee review was informed by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations.
It noted that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services required to maintain the integrity and credibility of public examinations.
According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji 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 said the decision reflects its determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered, socially responsive and aligned with the collective interest of the nation.
It added that extensive consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners to ensure that any future decision on examination fees is fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing economic realities while safeguarding access to education.
