The Federal Government has suspended the approved increase in West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) fees for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) scheduled to take effect 2027.
The Federal Ministry of Education had earlier announced the upward review of the examinations fee from N27,500.00 to N50,000.00 per candidate, citing economic realities.
But owing to public outcry, the government today, announced the suspension of the new fee, pending wider stakeholder engagements.
Folashade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, in a statement, remarked that the ministry has withdrawn its June 18, 2026 circular which had earlier conveyed the fee hike.
She said the withdrawal was intended to allow for wider consultations with stakeholders in the education sector before a final decision would be made. The consultations are expected to involve school proprietors, education regulators, parents/guardians and the examination bodies, etc.
The Director noted that the now jettisoned adjustment was occasioned by rising costs with respect to printing of examination papers, logistics, security, etc, in the market which have made conduct of credible examinations difficult.
Previously, the now suspended fee hike was communicated by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director, Senior Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, following a request by WAEC for an upward review of the SSCE registration fee.
It amounted to about 82 per cent increase in the fee from the previous N27,500.00 charged per candidate.
The suspension of the hike in SSCE registration fee offers some breather to parents and guardians who have come under the weight of increasing economic hardship in recent years.