The Federal Government has suspended the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, pending wider consultations with stakeholders
In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education announced that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 letter proposing the fee adjustment to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is made.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the suspension followed concerns and feedback from members of the public.
“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement read.
The ministry explained that the proposed fee review was prompted by rising costs of conducting national examinations, noting that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for years despite increasing operational expenses.
It listed higher spending on logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the credibility of public examinations.
According to the ministry, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” the statement added.
The ministry said the decision reflects its commitment to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are carefully considered and aligned with the public interest.
It added that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other key partners before any final decision is reached.
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Very necessary. How much is minimum wage again