Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised the Federal Government over the reported approval of a uniform ₦50,000 examination fee for candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council examinations starting from 2027.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress described the policy as economically insensitive and a major barrier to education for millions of Nigerian children.

Atiku warned that the new fee, along with recent increases in Unity School charges, would further widen inequality and deny access to education for children from poor and middle-income families.

He noted that many parents are already struggling with inflation, rising food prices, high transportation costs, and unemployment, making additional school-related expenses even more burdensome.

The former Vice President argued that education remains the most effective tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. He stressed that any government truly committed to the future of its people should be removing financial barriers to learning rather than creating new ones.

Atiku also questioned the emphasis on student loans when many children are being priced out of secondary education before they can even reach university level.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the increase in Unity School fees and shelve the proposed ₦50,000 examination fee. Atiku urged the government to convene a stakeholders’ dialogue on sustainable financing of public education and invest more in public schools, teacher recruitment, and expanding university capacity.

He emphasised that no child should be denied education because of financial hardship.

The statement has added to the ongoing public debate about the affordability of education in Nigeria. Many stakeholders have expressed concern about the rising cost of schooling and its impact on the country’s large population of out-of-school children. As the conversation continues, there are calls for the government to prioritise making education more accessible at all levels.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper