The Federal Government has suspended the proposed WAEC and NECO registration fee increase for 2027, pending broader consultations with stakeholders across Nigeria's education sector.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education. According to the ministry, the letter dated June 18, 2026, which communicated the proposed fee adjustment, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is made.
The statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, explained that the suspension followed widespread public reactions and feedback received after the proposal was announced.
According to the ministry, the proposed fee review was initially considered necessary because the cost of conducting public examinations has risen significantly over the years. It noted that registration fees have remained largely unchanged despite increasing expenses associated with logistics, security, printing examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, and other operational requirements.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government's commitment to transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said consultations would now be held with key stakeholders, including examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents' associations, organised labour, and other education partners before any decision is reached.
It stressed that the proposed registration fee review will not take effect until the consultation process has been completed and all concerns have been adequately considered.
The ministry reiterated that students' welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government's education agenda. It also assured Nigerians that the public would be kept informed throughout the consultation process.
Before the suspension, the Federal Government had approved a new ₦50,000 registration fee for both the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations for candidates beginning in 2027.
The proposed fee represented an 82 percent increase from the current registration fee of ₦27,500. The proposal followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees due to rising operational costs.
The planned increase attracted criticism from several groups, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who argued that the new fee would place additional financial pressure on Nigerian families already facing economic hardship.
With the latest decision, the Federal Government says no new examination registration fee will be implemented until consultations with stakeholders are concluded and a final position is reached.
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