The Federal Government has suspended the 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), pending broader consultations with stakeholders.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision in a statement issued on Monday, saying the June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is made.

According to the ministry, the proposed increase was necessitated by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other operational expenses.

It noted that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing costs.

The ministry said the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that implementation of the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking, following concerns and feedback from the public.

It added that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before any decision on the proposed fee adjustment is reached.

The ministry stressed that the proposed review would not take effect until the consultation process is concluded, reiterating the government’s commitment to students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking.

The suspended proposal would have increased the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the examinations from 2027, representing an 82 per cent increase. The ministry had approved the adjustment following a request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees.

The proposal had drawn criticism from several groups, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who opposed the planned increase.