by Attah Ede and Kamsi Anayo
Federal Government on Monday, announced immediate suspension of the proposed review of registration fees of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The withdrawal followed public outcry and the backlash that has greeted the policy since it was announced few days ago.
The Federal Government had last week, granted approval for increase of registration fees for WAEC and NECO examinations but the decision was met with criticisms from many Nigerians especially parents.
They argued that increasing the fees for NECO and WAEC registration will increase the cost of education for parents and add to the current hardship in the country.
Activist Aisha Yesufu also criticized the move as she argued that good education should be the right of very Nigerian student.
“No student in Nigeria should be paying for WAEC and NECO. Good quality education should be a right Nigerian children enjoy
“Primary and secondary education is more beneficial to the state than the people. The cost of an uneducated populace is too high for a State,” Yesufu said in a tweet.
However, the federal government in a statement on Monday, explained that the suspension of the proposed increase of the registration fees to N50,000 was to give ways for more consultation with other stakeholders.
The statement which was signed by Boriowo Folasade the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Monday, announced that the ministry has withdrawn its June 18, 2026, letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment to allow for a comprehensive review and wider consultations with relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
She said the decision followed concerns and constructive feedback from members of the public over the proposed increase.
She further explained that the proposed review was necessitated by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations.
She listed the increasing costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services as factors responsible for the proposal.
According to her, the Minister of Education, Dr 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.
She added that the ministry would engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders as part of the fresh review process
According to her, the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process.
Boriowo reaffirmed that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remained central to the federal government’s education agenda.
