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JUST IN: 2027 WAEC and NECO Registration Fee Increased to ₦50,000 — What Every Student and Parent Must Know

NLTC Team · 13 July 2026 · 10 min read

The Federal Government has approved a new ₦50,000 registration fee for both WAEC and NECO SSCE examinations, effective from 2027. This is an increase of up to 85% from current fees. Here is everything students and parents need to know.

Breaking Update — June 19, 2026

In one of the most significant education policy announcements of 2026, the Federal Government has officially approved a sharp increase in the registration fees for both the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) conducted by WAEC and the Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by NECO. The new fee — ₦50,000 per candidate — will take effect from the 2027 examination cycle, meaning that current SS1 and SS2 students across Nigeria will be directly affected when they sit their final secondary school examinations.

The approval was conveyed in an official memo dated June 18, 2026, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. The development has already generated significant reactions from parents, students, education stakeholders, and state governments across the country.

What Exactly Has Changed — The Old Fees vs The New Fees

The scale of the increase becomes clear when the old and new fees are placed side by side:

Both examination bodies will now charge the same uniform fee of ₦50,000 per candidate — a deliberate harmonisation directed by the Minister of Education following discussions at a meeting of examination bodies held on March 31, 2026. The new fees apply specifically to internal (school) candidates — meaning SS3 students who register for WAEC and NECO through their secondary schools. The fees for private candidates (GCE) have not yet been separately announced and may follow a different structure.

What the Official Memo Said

The official approval memo was clear and direct. Part of the memo read:

"You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31st March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE. Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education's approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000.00) only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal) 2027."

The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, subsequently confirmed the approval publicly, stating: "I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees."

Why Has the Fee Been Increased?

The Federal Ministry of Education has cited the rising cost of conducting public examinations as the primary justification for the increase. This includes the cost of printing examination materials, securing and transporting question papers to centres nationwide, deploying supervisors and invigilators, operating CBT infrastructure, processing and publishing results, and producing digital and physical certificates.

Both WAEC and NECO had reportedly made formal requests for fee reviews ahead of the March 31 meeting, arguing that the cost of running their examination operations had increased significantly due to inflation, the depreciation of the naira, and the expansion of digital examination infrastructure — including CBT rollouts that require new equipment and training. The Federal Government's approval aligns with similar fee increases seen across various public services in Nigeria as the country continues to deal with the economic pressures of recent years.

When Does the New Fee Take Effect?

The new ₦50,000 fee takes effect from the 2027 examination cycle — meaning:

Parents and guardians of children currently in SS1 and SS2 should factor this new fee into their educational budget planning immediately.

What This Means for State Governments

The fee increase has significant implications for state governments across Nigeria, many of which currently sponsor examination registration fees for students in public secondary schools. Lagos State, for example, currently pays the WAEC registration fee for eligible public school students while many parents cover the NECO fee. Under the new structure:

Reactions from Education Stakeholders

The announcement has not been without controversy. Education advocates, parent associations, and student groups have expressed a range of responses — from cautious understanding to outright concern.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been reported to be preparing a formal response to the announcement, with concerns centred on the potential impact of the increase on access to education — particularly for students from low-income families in states where governments do not sponsor examination fees.

Several education analysts have noted that while the need for examination bodies to cover their operational costs is legitimate, the timing and scale of the increase — coming at a period of significant economic hardship for many Nigerian families — is a cause for concern. The combined cost of registering for both WAEC and NECO from 2027 will be ₦100,000, not counting other school-related costs.

Supporters of the decision argue that the old fees — particularly WAEC's ₦27,000 — had become insufficient to sustain quality examination conduct, and that underinvestment in examination infrastructure was part of the reason for the malpractice, result controversies, and logistical challenges that have plagued both examinations in recent years.

What About the WAEC GCE (Private Candidates)?

The approval memo specifically referenced the SSCE Internal examination — which is for school candidates. As of the time of this publication, no separate official announcement has been made regarding changes to the WAEC GCE (Private Candidates) registration fee for 2027. The current 2026 WAEC GCE Second Series fee is ₦27,000, and registration is currently open until July 31, 2026.

It is widely expected that the GCE private candidate fee will also be reviewed upward for 2027, given that the rationale for the internal fee increase — rising operational costs — applies equally to the GCE. However, this has not been officially confirmed and candidates should watch for a separate announcement from WAEC regarding the GCE fee structure.

Candidates who are currently planning to write the 2026 WAEC GCE Second Series are not affected by the new fee — they will pay the current ₦27,000. Any candidate who wants to write GCE at the current fee should register before July 31, 2026.

What About NECO GCE?

Similarly, the approved increase specifically covers the NECO SSCE Internal examination. No separate announcement has been made regarding the NECO GCE (External) fee for 2027. The current NECO GCE Second Series registration fee for 2026 remains at its existing rate. Watch for a separate official announcement from NECO regarding any changes to the GCE fee structure for 2027.

What Should Parents and Students Do Right Now?

The following steps are recommended for families directly affected by this announcement:

2027 WAEC and NECO Registration — What to Expect

While it is still 2026 and the 2027 WAEC and NECO registration cycles have not yet opened, here is what current SS2 students and their parents can realistically expect based on historical patterns and the new policy:

NLTC will publish detailed registration guides for both WAEC 2027 and NECO 2027 as soon as the official registration windows open. Bookmark our blog and check back regularly for updates.

Key Takeaway for Every Nigerian Family

The approved ₦50,000 fee for both WAEC and NECO from 2027 is a significant development that every secondary school family in Nigeria needs to plan for now — not in 2027. Combined, the cost of registering for both examinations from 2027 will be ₦100,000 per child. For families with multiple children in secondary school, this represents a substantial annual education expense that must be budgeted for in advance.

Beyond the financial planning aspect, the fee increase also serves as a reminder of the value of getting examinations right the first time. A student who registers for WAEC and NECO in 2027, fails, and must register again in 2028 for re-sitting will spend ₦200,000 on registration fees alone across two cycles. This makes thorough preparation — starting now, not in SS3 — more important and more financially sensible than ever.

Conclusion

The Federal Government's approval of a ₦50,000 registration fee for both WAEC and NECO SSCE from 2027 is one of the most consequential education policy decisions of the year. While the justification — rising operational costs and the need for examination bodies to fund quality conduct — is understandable, the impact on Nigerian families, particularly those without government sponsorship support, will be significant. Parents of current SS1 and SS2 students should begin financial planning immediately, and candidates who want to write WAEC GCE under the current fee should register before July 31, 2026.

At Next Level Tutorial College (NLTC), we understand that the rising cost of examinations makes it more important than ever for students to be thoroughly prepared and to pass their examinations at the first sitting. Our WAEC and NECO preparation programmes are designed to give every student the tools they need to succeed — so that every naira spent on registration is money well invested. Reach out to us today to find out how we can help your child prepare for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB.