Nigerian government halts plan to change WAEC, NECO fees

The Nigerian government has put a stop to the plan to change the registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

In a statement from the Ministry of Education's spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry announced the suspension on Monday. This decision came after hearing from stakeholders and other Nigerians who raised concerns.

“The ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education,” the statement said in part.

Initial fee proposal

In a letter dated 18 June, the ministry instructed the heads of WAEC and NECO to change the SSCE fee to a uniform cost of N50,000 per candidate.

The ministry explained that this proposal was based on the current economic situation and the rising costs of running credible national exams.

The government noted that the registration fees for these exams have not changed much over the years. This is despite a big rise in operational costs such as logistics, security, printing of exam materials, technology use, quality assurance, and other necessary services to keep public examinations credible across the country.

Decision to suspend

However, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has now ordered a suspension of this plan until further discussions with stakeholders.

The ministry plans to engage with examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school owners, parents' groups, organized labor, education stakeholders, and other important partners. This is to make sure that any future decisions are fair, sustainable, transparent, and reflect the current situation while ensuring 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 ministry stated.