The Federal Government has backed down on its proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) senior secondary school examinations, suspending the policy after it triggered widespread public opposition.
The proposal, which sought to raise the registration fee for the examinations to N50,000 from the current N27,500 beginning in 2027, had drawn criticism from parents, education stakeholders, labour groups and opposition figures who warned that the increase would place additional financial strain on families.
Announcing the suspension on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education said the letter conveying the proposed adjustment, issued on June 18, had been withdrawn pending extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The ministry said the decision followed directives from the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who ordered that the proposal be put on hold to allow for broader engagement and review.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry explained that the proposed increase was informed by rising costs associated with conducting public examinations across the country.
According to the ministry, examination fees have remained relatively stable for several years despite growing expenses linked to logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technological infrastructure and quality assurance processes.
However, it said government recognised the need to carry stakeholders along before implementing a policy with far-reaching implications for students and parents.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government's commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” the statement said.
The ministry added that the suspension reflected government's resolve to ensure that decisions affecting millions of students are carefully evaluated and aligned with the interests of the public.
It said consultations would now be conducted with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents' associations, organised labour and other relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
“Accordingly, the proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the ministry stated.
The ministry reiterated that improving access to quality education and protecting the welfare of students remain key priorities of the administration.
It assured Nigerians that any future policy on examination fees would be guided by extensive stakeholder input and the need to balance educational accessibility with the cost of maintaining credible examination systems.
The proposed fee increase had generated intense debate in recent weeks, with critics arguing that raising examination costs by more than 80 per cent could worsen the burden on low-income families already struggling with rising living expenses.
Observers had also warned that such an increase could lead to higher school dropout rates and reduce the number of candidates registering for the examinations.
With the suspension, candidates preparing for the 2027 examinations and their parents can now await the outcome of the consultation process, which will determine whether any adjustment to examination fees will eventually be implemented.
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