Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Federal Government has bowed to public pressure and suspended its 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 confirmed on Wednesday that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been officially withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader stakeholder engagement.
The decision comes after the Ministry acknowledged the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public, appreciating the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Ministry explained that the proposed review was initially informed by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations.
“The current examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational costs, 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 across the country,” the statement read.
However, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
As part of the fresh review process, the Ministry will engage extensively with examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners.
The Ministry emphasised that any future decision must be fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing realities while safeguarding access to education.
Accordingly, the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process.
The Federal Ministry of Education reassured Nigerians that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the education sector.
The Ministry appreciated the understanding, patience and continued support of all stakeholders and remains committed to keeping the public fully informed throughout the consultation process.
The suspension will come as a relief to millions of Nigerian families who had expressed fears that any increase in examination fees could further burden parents already grappling with the high cost of living.
