Federal Government increases exam registration costs for WAEC and NECO to N50,000 per student

The Federal Ministry of Education, led by Minister Dr Tunji Alausa, has approved a fee increase for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, with the National Examinations Council and the West African Examinations Council now allowed to charge N50,000 per candidate starting in 2027.

n

This decision will see the NECO SSCE internal examination fee rise from N30,000 to N50,000 per candidate, while the WAEC fee will increase from N27,000 to N50,000, affecting internal candidates finishing their Senior Secondary School education.

n

A memo dated June 18, 2026, signed by Director of Senior Secondary Education Mr Adeniji Ibrahim on behalf of the Minister of Education, conveyed the approval of the new rate to the Registrar of NECO, stating that the West African Examinations Council had requested the fee increase.

n

The memo noted that the Minister of Education had directed the adoption of a uniform fee for WAEC and NECO SSCE at a meeting on March 31, 2026, and that the new fee of N50,000 was approved for implementation from 2027.

n

The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, has expressed dissatisfaction with the fee increase, describing it as too high and a burden on parents who already bear numerous expenses for their children.

n

NAPTAN Chairman Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo suggested that a more gradual increase, such as 25%, would be more acceptable, rather than the over 75% increase being implemented, which could lead to some children being unable to register for the examination.

n

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, has taken a neutral stance on the issue, with National President Mr Audu Titus Amba stating that the decision to accept or reject the fee increase lies with parents, as the union's primary focus is on teacher welfare.

n

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the federal government's decision to increase fees for Federal Unity Colleges and the proposed uniform N50,000 examination fee for WAEC and NECO candidates, describing it as cruel and economically insensitive.

n

Atiku noted that the policy would further exacerbate the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria, which already stands at between 10.5 million and 15 million, and that the government should instead be investing in education to bring these children back into the classroom.

n

He warned that the fee increase would disproportionately affect children from poor and middle-income families, and that the government's policies would ultimately lead to more children being priced out of education.

n

Atiku called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the fee increase and convene a stakeholders' dialogue on sustainable financing for public education, emphasizing that genuine educational reform begins with making education affordable from primary to secondary levels.

n

He stated that an African Democratic Congress-led government would prioritize education as a public good, reverse policies that limit access to education, and ensure that every Nigerian child has a fair opportunity to learn and excel.