Federal govment suspend Waec and Neco fees increment

Di federal govment of Nigeria don suspend di proposed review of registration fees for di 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and di National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) pending wider consultations wit stakeholders.

Di Federal Ministry of Education make di informate for one statement wey dia Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, issue on Monday, 13 July.

Di proposed fee of 50,000 per candidate vex di National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (Naptan), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and many Nigerians wey say e fit increase di number of out-of-school children for di kontri.

According to di ministry, di letter wey convey di proposed fee adjustment wey carry June 18, 2026 date, don dey withdrawn to allow for comprehensive review and broader consultations bifor dem reach final decision.

"Di Ministry acknowledge di concerns and constructive feedback received from di public and appreciate di keen interest wey Nigerians show for matas wey relate to access to quality education," di statement tok.

Dem explain say di proposed review na sake of economic realities and di rising cost of conducting credible national examinations.

According to di statement, examination registration fees don remain unchanged for several years despite ogbonge increases for operational costs, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and oda essential services wey dey required to maintain di integrity of public examinations nationwide.

Di Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, bin direct say make di proposal "dey on hold in line wit di federal govment commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking".

"Di decision underscore di ministry determination to ensure say policies wey dey affect millions of Nigerian students and dia families dey carefully considered, socially responsive and reflect di collective interest of di nation," di statement tok.

Di ministry say dem go engage extensively wit examination bodis, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and oda critical partners as part of di fresh review process.

Dem say di consultations go ensure any future decision on examination fees dey fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing economic realities while safeguarding access to education.

Di ministry say di proposed review of examination registration fees no go take effect as earlier communicated until di consultation process dey concluded.

Dem also reassure Nigerians say di welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain central to di Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

Di ministry add say dem go continue to keep di public informed throughout di consultation process.