The Federal Government has suspended its controversial proposal to raise WAEC and NECO registration fees to ₦50,000 from 2027, following widespread criticism from parents, education stakeholders, labour groups and political leaders. The Ministry of Education says the proposal has been withdrawn pending extensive consultations.
Barely 24 hours after announcing a sharp increase in the cost of registering for Nigeria’s two major secondary school examinations, the Federal Government has reversed course amid growing public outrage.
The decision to suspend the proposed fee hike comes after education stakeholders warned that the policy could worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis and place an unbearable financial burden on millions of families already struggling with rising living costs.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 circular communicating the proposed fee increase.
The ministry said the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that implementation be suspended to allow for broader consultations with relevant stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
According to the ministry, the proposed increase was initially driven by the rising cost of conducting national examinations, including expenses related to logistics, security, printing examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance.
However, officials acknowledged the widespread concerns expressed by Nigerians and said any future decision must balance the financial realities facing examination bodies with the need to keep education affordable and accessible.
The ministry announced that it will begin consultations with WAEC, NECO, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before deciding whether any adjustment should eventually take effect.
It stressed that the proposed ₦50,000 fee will not be implemented until the consultation process is concluded and a final policy decision is reached.
The proposed increase, unveiled over the weekend, would have raised WAEC registration fees from about ₦27,000 to ₦50,000 and NECO fees from ₦30,000 to the same amount beginning in 2027.
The announcement sparked immediate criticism from parents, education groups and opposition politicians, including Atiku Abubakar, who argued that the move would make education less affordable for ordinary Nigerians.
The government’s decision to suspend the proposal has brought temporary relief to millions of parents and students across the country. Attention now shifts to the outcome of the planned stakeholder consultations, which will determine whether the fee review is modified, retained or abandoned altogether.