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 extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The decision was announced in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on Sunday, July 13, 2026.
According to the Ministry, the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, which was dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and wider consultations before any final decision is reached.
The Ministry said the suspension followed concerns and constructive feedback from members of the public, noting that Nigerians had shown significant interest in ensuring continued access to quality education.
It explained that the proposed fee review was initially driven by prevailing economic realities and the increasing cost of conducting credible national examinations. The Ministry noted that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite rising operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
However, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government's commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The Ministry stressed that the decision reflects its determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered, socially responsive and aligned with the collective interest of the nation.
As part of the fresh review process, the Ministry said it will engage extensively with examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents' associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners.
It added that the consultations are aimed at ensuring that any future decision on examination registration fees is fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to current economic realities while safeguarding access to education.
The Ministry clarified that the proposed increase in examination registration fees will not take effect until the consultation process has been concluded.
Reassuring Nigerians, the Ministry stated that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the education sector.
It also appealed for continued understanding, patience and support from stakeholders, assuring the public that it will provide regular updates throughout the consultation process.










