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JUST IN: FG Suspends ₦50,000 WAEC and NECO Fee Increase After Nationwide Backlash

NLTC Team · 14 July 2026 · 11 min read

Just days after approving a ₦50,000 registration fee for WAEC and NECO from 2027, the Federal Government has made a U-turn and suspended the policy following massive public outcry. Here is the full update.

Breaking Update — Monday, July 13, 2026

In a dramatic reversal that came less than a month after the initial announcement, the Federal Government has officially suspended its approval of a ₦50,000 registration fee for both the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for the 2027 examination cycle. The suspension was announced on Monday, July 13, 2026, by the Federal Ministry of Education, following what it described as "reactions from Nigerians" and widespread public backlash that swept across the country in the days following the original announcement.

This is a significant policy reversal — and for parents, students, and schools across Nigeria, it means that the proposed ₦50,000 fee will not take effect as previously communicated while the matter is under review. However, it is equally important to understand what the suspension means, what it does not mean, and what students and parents should do while the situation remains unresolved.

What Happened — A Quick Recap

On June 18, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Education issued an official memo — signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Mr. Adeniji Ibrahim — approving a uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 per candidate for both WAEC and NECO SSCE internal examinations, effective from 2027. The memo was the outcome of a March 31, 2026, meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and representatives of the examination bodies, where the rising cost of conducting national examinations was discussed. Under the approved increase, WAEC's fee would have risen from ₦27,000 to ₦50,000 — an increase of approximately 85 percent — while NECO's fee would have risen from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000 — a 67 percent increase. Both examinations would have charged the same uniform fee of ₦50,000 from the 2027 registration cycle onwards.

The reaction from Nigerians was swift, sustained, and cross-sectional. Parents' groups, teachers' unions, student bodies, civil society organisations, opposition politicians, and ordinary Nigerians took to social media, radio programmes, and press statements to condemn the increase — describing it as insensitive, unaffordable, and potentially catastrophic for access to secondary school education in a country already battling rising inflation and a growing out-of-school children crisis.

What the Federal Government Said — The Official Statement

The Federal Ministry of Education's official reversal statement, issued on Monday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, announced the withdrawal of the June 18 letter and the suspension of the proposed fee increase. The statement read in part:

"The Federal Ministry of Education announces that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken. The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education."

The ministry acknowledged that the proposed fee review was driven by legitimate operational concerns — specifically the increasing cost of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, and other critical examination processes. However, it stated that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had directed that implementation of the proposal be placed on hold in line with what the ministry described as the Federal Government's commitment to "inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based policymaking."

The ministry further announced that a fresh consultation process would now take place involving examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents' associations, organised labour, and other education stakeholders before any final decision is reached.

"The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process. The Federal Ministry of Education reassures Nigerians that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain at the heart of the government's education agenda."

Key Voices That Shaped the Reversal

The speed of the government's U-turn — less than four weeks between the original memo and its withdrawal — reflects the intensity of the public pressure that was mounted. Several notable voices played a prominent role in driving that pressure:

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was one of the most prominent public figures to condemn the fee increase, issuing a formal statement in which he warned that the policy would deepen Nigeria's out-of-school children crisis. He stated: "A university loan offers little comfort to a child who has already been priced out of secondary education or cannot afford the qualifying examination required to secure admission." He urged the government to reverse both the WAEC/NECO fee increase and a related proposed hike in Unity School fees, calling on the Federal Government to develop a sustainable funding model for examination bodies that does not transfer the financial burden to struggling families. Following the suspension, he described the reversal as a partial victory but cautioned: "A government that listens only after Nigerians cry out is a government that has stopped listening to the people it was elected to serve."

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)

NANS formally opposed the proposed increase and called for its reversal, arguing that the fee hike would make secondary school examinations inaccessible for students from low-income families — particularly in states where government sponsorship of examination fees is limited or non-existent. NANS welcomed the suspension as a positive response to student advocacy.

Education Stakeholders and Analysts

Education experts interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria described the original increase as "excessive," with educationist Beatrice Oke warning that "many average Nigerians may not afford the new fees, and this could force some students out of school." The combined ₦100,000 cost of registering for both WAEC and NECO under the proposed structure was widely cited as a figure that far exceeds what most Nigerian families can comfortably absorb — particularly in the current economic climate of high inflation, elevated transport costs, and reduced household purchasing power.

Peter Obi

ADC Presidential Candidate Peter Obi described the policy reversal as "a victory for the Nigerian people," adding that it demonstrated the power of sustained, organised public pressure on government policy. He called on the Federal Government to go further and develop a comprehensive, evidence-based examination funding model through genuine dialogue with all stakeholders.

What the Suspension Means — And What It Does Not Mean

This is the most important section of this update for parents and students to understand clearly. The suspension of the proposed fee does not mean the issue is permanently resolved. Here is what it actually means:

• The ₦50,000 fee will NOT take effect for 2027 as originally communicated. The June 18 memo approving it has been officially withdrawn.
• The old fees are not yet officially confirmed as the continuing standard. The ministry has not explicitly stated that the old fees — ₦27,000 for WAEC and ₦30,000 for NECO — will remain in place for 2027. This creates a gap in clarity that leaves schools, parents, and examination bodies without a definitive figure to plan around.
• A new fee may still be introduced after consultations. The suspension is not a permanent cancellation. The Federal Government has made clear that a review process will take place and that a new fee decision — potentially a compromise figure lower than ₦50,000 but higher than the current rates — may emerge from the consultation process.
• No timeline has been given for when consultations will conclude. The ministry has not stated when the review process will be completed or when a final decision will be communicated. This means the fee situation for 2027 WAEC and NECO remains officially unresolved as of today.

In plain terms: the ₦50,000 fee has been stopped for now — but the matter of what fee will apply in 2027 is not yet settled. Watch for further announcements from the Federal Ministry of Education as the consultation process unfolds.

What This Means for Current SS1 and SS2 Students

For students currently in SS1 and SS2 who will be writing WAEC and NECO in 2027 and 2028 respectively, the situation is as follows:

• The ₦50,000 fee you heard about will not apply — at least not in its originally announced form. You will not be paying ₦50,000 each for WAEC and NECO when you register.
• However, some fee increase is still likely. The Federal Government has been clear that the operational costs of conducting examinations have risen significantly. A revised, lower increase — perhaps to ₦35,000, ₦40,000, or some other figure — may emerge from the consultation process. Do not assume that fees will remain exactly at their 2026 levels.
• Continue preparing academically. Whatever fee eventually applies, passing WAEC and NECO at the first sitting remains the most financially sensible outcome. A student who pays any examination fee — whether ₦27,000 or ₦50,000 — and fails will have to pay again. Serious preparation is always the best financial decision.

What About Current SS3 Students Writing WAEC and NECO in 2026?

Current SS3 students who registered and are currently sitting or have just completed the 2026 WAEC and NECO are completely unaffected by this development. They registered under the existing fee structure and their examination process is unrelated to the 2027 fee debate. The 2026 WASSCE ended on June 19, 2026. Results are expected in early August 2026. The 2026 NECO SSCE continues until July 23, 2026.

What About WAEC GCE Private Candidates?

The fee increase debate and its suspension specifically concerned the SSCE Internal examination for school candidates. The WAEC GCE Second Series for private candidates is not directly covered by this announcement. The 2026 WAEC GCE Second Series registration remains open at the current fee of ₦27,000, with the PIN deadline on July 31, 2026 and the biometric capture deadline on August 2, 2026. Private candidates should register now at the current fee while the policy situation for 2027 remains under review.

The Broader Issue — Why This Matters Beyond the Fee

The speed with which Nigerian civil society, parents, opposition politicians, and education advocates mobilised to reverse this policy is significant in itself. It demonstrates that when Nigerians speak with one voice on matters that directly affect access to education, government policy can be responsive. The episode also highlights a genuine and unresolved tension in Nigeria's education system: examination bodies like WAEC and NECO do face rising operational costs that are real and legitimate, yet the financial burden of those costs cannot simply be transferred to families already stretched by the pressures of Nigeria's current economic environment without serious consequences for access.

The consultation process that the Federal Government has now committed to must grapple honestly with this tension. Sustainable solutions could include increased government funding to examination bodies to reduce the burden on individual candidates, phased and gradual fee adjustments over multiple years rather than a single sharp increase, or targeted subsidies for students from low-income backgrounds. Nigerians and education stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the consultation produces a genuinely fair outcome — or whether the ₦50,000 fee simply returns in a slightly different form after the public has moved on.

What Students and Parents Should Do Right Now

• Breathe easy — for now. The ₦50,000 fee will not take effect as announced. You do not need to make any payment decisions based on the suspended policy.
• Stay informed. Monitor the NLTC blog and the Federal Ministry of Education's official channels for updates on the consultation process and any new fee announcement that emerges.
• If you are a private candidate planning to write WAEC GCE Second Series 2026 — register before July 31, 2026 at the current fee of ₦27,000. Do not wait.
• If you are in SS2 or SS1 — continue planning financially for a possible examination fee increase in 2027 or 2028, even if the final figure will be lower than ₦50,000. Some increase is likely to come from the consultation process.
• Focus on academic preparation. Whatever fee applies, passing at the first sitting is always the smartest financial and academic decision. Begin your WAEC and NECO preparation early and take it seriously.

Conclusion

The Federal Government's suspension of the ₦50,000 WAEC and NECO fee increase is a victory for Nigerian students and families — but it is not a final resolution. The issue of how examination bodies are funded, and who bears that cost, remains an open question that the forthcoming consultation process must address honestly and fairly. For now, the most important message to students and parents is this: the proposed increase has been stopped, the current fees remain in place pending the review, and the focus for every student should be on preparing thoroughly for their examinations — because passing at the first attempt is always the best investment, at any fee level.

At Next Level Tutorial College (NLTC), we are committed to helping every student in Ikorodu and beyond prepare for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB with the dedication and quality that produces results. Whatever changes come in examination policy, thorough preparation remains the one constant that every student can control. Reach out to us today to find out how we can help.