WAEC, NECO Fee Hike Sparks Outrage as Atiku, Parents, Groups React
Fresh opposition has greeted the Federal Government’s approval of a proposed increase in registration fees for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Prominent stakeholders warned that the policy could deny thousands of students access to education.
The Federal Ministry of Education has approved a uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 for WAEC and NECO SSCE candidates, effective from the 2027 examination cycle.
The new rate represents a sharp increase from the current ₦27,000 charged by WAEC and ₦30,000 by NECO.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the decision as “cruel” and another indication of the government’s continued escalation of the cost of public education.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said education remains the most effective pathway out of poverty, warning that every additional financial burden imposed on parents would push more children out of school.
“Every additional financial burden on parents means another child may be denied the opportunity to learn, dream and contribute meaningfully to society,” he said.
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) also rejected the proposed increase, describing it as excessive and insensitive to the economic realities facing Nigerian families.
Chairman of NAPTAN’s Board of Trustees, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said while an upward review could be justified by inflation, the proposed increase was too steep.
“The increase is far above what parents can reasonably absorb. If an adjustment is necessary, it should be gradual and not exceed about 25 per cent,” he said.
Ogunbanjo warned that many students could be unable to register for the examinations despite completing their secondary education.
“Parents already shoulder huge educational expenses. This increase may prevent many SS3 students from sitting their final examinations,” he added.
Reacting to the development, National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Titus Amba, said the matter primarily concerned parents, noting that the union’s focus remained teachers’ welfare and professional issues.
The approval was conveyed in a June 18, 2026 memo signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education. The memo stated that the minister approved a uniform examination fee of ₦50,000 for WAEC and NECO school candidates beginning from the 2027 SSCE.
According to the ministry, the decision followed a meeting with examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where the need for a review of examination fees was discussed.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have expressed concern that the new fee could worsen the financial burden on state governments that sponsor candidates’ examinations and increase the number of students unable to register in states where parents bear the full cost.
In Lagos State, for instance, the government currently pays WAEC fees for eligible public school candidates, while many parents pay NECO registration fees themselves.
Also condemning the decision, the Campaign for Equal Rights and Opportunities for All Nigerians (CERON) described the fee hike as insensitive amid worsening economic hardship.
The group warned that raising examination fees at a time when millions of families are battling rising living costs and poverty could increase the number of out-of-school children and further limit access to education.
The proposed increase has triggered growing calls on the Federal Government to reverse the decision or significantly reduce the approved fee before its planned implementation in 2027.
