The Federal Government has put on hold a planned increase in registration fees for the 2027 WASSCE and NECO SSCE examinations.
The Federal Ministry of Education says it has withdrawn the June 18 letter that outlined the proposed fee changes, choosing instead to carry out a fuller review and wider consultations with stakeholders before making a final call.
Officials say the ministry has taken note of public concerns and welcomed the level of interest Nigerians have shown in the issue. The proposed increase had been driven by rising costs logistics, security, printing, technology, and quality control needed to run credible exams, with fees having stayed flat for years despite these growing expenses.
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Even so, Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa has ordered the plan paused, describing it as part of the government’s push for open, evidence-driven policymaking. The ministry says this reflects its intent to weigh carefully any decision affecting students and families nationwide.
Going forward, the ministry plans deeper engagement with exam bodies, state education ministries, school administrators, parent groups, labor unions, and other stakeholders to shape a fee policy that is fair, sustainable, and realistic without limiting access to education.
As a result, the fee increase will not go into effect as originally planned until consultations wrap up. The ministry maintains that student welfare and equal access to education remain central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope education agenda, and it thanked the public for its patience, promising continued updates as the process unfolds.
