THE Federal Government has suspended its 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 wider consultations with relevant stakeholders.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision in a statement, explaining that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment to allow for a comprehensive review of the proposal.
According to the ministry, the decision followed concerns and feedback received from members of the public over the planned increase in examination registration fees.
The ministry explained that the proposed review was initially considered due to rising operational costs associated with conducting credible national examinations, noting that registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing expenses.
It listed logistics, security arrangements, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance and other essential services as some of the major cost factors responsible for the proposed adjustment.
However, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said the suspension was aimed at ensuring that policies affecting millions of students and their families receive proper consideration and reflect the collective interest of Nigerians.
It added that the fresh review process would involve extensive consultations with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other relevant partners before any final decision is reached.
The ministry stressed that the proposed increase in examination registration fees would not take effect until the consultation process is concluded.
It further reassured Nigerians that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the education agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The ministry thanked Nigerians for their understanding and support, promising to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process.
