By Chike Ofili
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, bowing to widespread public opposition and mounting concerns over the impact on millions of Nigerian families.
The decision, announced on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education, effectively withdraws an earlier circular issued on 18 June 2026, which had communicated the proposed fee adjustment.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, the government said the proposal had been put on hold to allow for wider consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
According to the ministry, the suspension followed constructive feedback and concerns expressed by Nigerians over the planned increase.
It explained that the proposed review had been prompted by rising costs associated with conducting credible national examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, and other operational expenses.
The statement said Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that implementation of the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based policymaking.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the ministry stated.
It disclosed that fresh consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other critical stakeholders before any decision is reached.
The ministry reaffirmed that the welfare of students, equitable access to education and responsible policy formulation remained central to the government’s education agenda, while assuring Nigerians that they would be kept informed throughout the review process.
The announcement followed days of criticism from parents, education stakeholders, civil society groups and political leaders, who argued that increasing examination fees amid worsening economic conditions would place an unbearable burden on households already struggling with inflation and the rising cost of living.
Reacting to the suspension, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, described the government’s decision as “a victory for the Nigerian people.”
In a statement posted on his X account, Obi said the reversal offered relief to millions of families and demonstrated that governments could respond positively when citizens raised legitimate concerns.
“I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people,” he said.
While commending the government for listening to public opinion, Obi maintained that the proposed increase should never have been contemplated in the first place.
According to him, imposing additional financial burdens on students at a time of widespread economic hardship would only worsen Nigeria’s education crisis and increase the number of out-of-school children.
“At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, access to education should be expanded, not restricted,” he stated.
Obi argued that education should be regarded as a public investment rather than a source of government revenue, stressing that true leadership includes the willingness to reverse policies that inflict unnecessary hardship on citizens.
He also commended parents, civil society organisations, and advocacy groups whose opposition to the proposed increase contributed to the government’s decision.
The National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) also welcomed the suspension, describing it as evidence that the government listened to the concerns of parents and other stakeholders.
Chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees, Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, urged the Federal Government to abandon the proposal entirely rather than merely postponing its implementation.
“We appreciate the government’s responsiveness, but our collective demand remains clear: the proposed examination fee increment should be cancelled completely and not postponed for implementation in the future,” he said.
“Our cry was never merely against timing; it was against the burden itself. Whether introduced in 2027, 2030, or any other period, we don’t want such an increment.”
Ogunbanjo had earlier opposed the proposal, warning that the planned increase from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 would be excessive and could deny many students access to secondary education.
He argued that although examination bodies faced increasing operational costs, almost doubling the registration fee could not be justified at a time when parents were grappling with soaring fuel prices, inflation, and rising household expenses.
He further warned that higher examination fees could discourage state governments that currently sponsor candidates from continuing such interventions because of the increased financial burden.
Also speaking, Mrs. Gloria Chukwuma-Okoh, Proprietress of Gap Fillers Academy, Agboju, Lagos, cautioned that any increase in examination fees could worsen school dropout rates and deepen the country’s education challenges.
She urged governments at all levels to prioritise affordable, accessible, and quality education by investing in school infrastructure, recruiting qualified teachers, and sustaining sponsorship of WAEC and NECO examinations for eligible students.
The suspension is expected to provide immediate relief to millions of parents preparing candidates for the 2027 examinations, while consultations continue on the future funding of Nigeria’s public examination system.