The Federal Government has suspended its 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).
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision on Monday, saying it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, notice on the proposed fee adjustment to allow for wider consultations with stakeholders.
According to the ministry, the suspension followed concerns raised by members of the public over the planned increase.
It explained that the proposed review was driven by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations. These include logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other operational expenses. The ministry noted that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing costs.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold, citing the Federal Government's commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said it will engage key stakeholders, including examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, school administrators, parents' associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before making any decision.
It added that no increase in WAEC or NECO registration fees will take effect until the consultation process is completed.
The ministry also said student welfare, equitable access to education and responsible policymaking remain priorities of President Bola Tinubu's administration. It assured the public that updates would be provided as the consultation process progresses.
