FG Suspends Controversial WAEC, NECO Fee Hike, Withdraws Letter Ordering Impementation

The Federal Government has suspended the implementation of the proposed increase in the registration fees for both the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examination, pending wider consultations with stakeholders.
This was contained in a statement on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, noting that  the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision was taken.
The statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, pointed out further that the suspension followed concerns and feedback from members of the public.
Boriowo's words, “The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.” 
The ministry also, further stated that, the proposed fee review was driven by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations, pointing out that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
It cited higher costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the credibility of public examinations.
The statement stressed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” it said, adding that 
the decision reflects its commitment to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are carefully considered and responsive to public interest.
Alausa was further quoted as  having added that 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 before any decision is reached.
Accordingly, the ministry said the proposed review of examination registration fees would not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation process is concluded.
The ministry  reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda and pledged to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process.
The Federal Government had earlier approved N50,000 as the new examination fee for WAEC and NECO for candidates with effect from 2027, causing an increase of 82 percent hike from the old registration fee of N27,500. 
In a statement on June 18, 2026, signed  by the Director of Senior Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, the approval of the N50,000 new fees followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the fee for the Senior School Certificate Examination for candidates from 2027.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students had earlier kicked against the Federal Government’s approval of a uniform N50,000 fee for SSCE and NECO candidates.