Jelili Gbadamosi
The Federal Government has suspended the planned increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) following widespread public outrage.
The Ministry of Education announced the decision on Monday, stating that its June 18, 2026 directive approving the fee hike had been withdrawn to allow for further consultations with stakeholders.
According to the ministry, the proposed increase was driven by rising operational costs associated with conducting credible national examinations, including logistics, security, printing, technology deployment and quality assurance.
However, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and transparent policymaking.
The ministry said it would engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school owners, parents, labour unions and other stakeholders before taking any final decision on the matter.
The fee hike had sparked widespread criticism, with many Nigerians describing it as an additional burden on struggling families. Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had also condemned the proposed increase, calling it insensitive.
