The Federal Government’s decision to increase the registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to N50,000 from 2027 has sparked differing opinions among education stakeholders.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, several stakeholders criticised the planned increase, describing it as too steep and likely to place an additional financial burden on parents and students. They warned that the new fee could limit access to education, particularly for candidates from low-income families.
Many of them called on the Federal Government to reconsider the policy, introduce subsidies for disadvantaged students and ensure any adjustment to examination fees takes into account the country’s current economic realities as well as input from relevant stakeholders.
Others, however, backed the increase, arguing that additional revenue could improve certificate verification processes, strengthen digital infrastructure and enhance service delivery, provided the funds are managed transparently and affordability is considered.
NAN reports that the approval was contained in a June 18, 2026 memo issued by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
The directive followed a decision to harmonise the registration fees for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by WAEC and NECO.
Under the new arrangement, NECO’s internal SSCE registration fee will rise from N30,000 to N50,000, while WAEC’s fee will increase from N27,000 to the same amount beginning in 2027.
Reacting to the development, education expert Beatrice Oke acknowledged that examination bodies face rising operational and logistics costs but maintained that the approved increase was excessive.
She expressed concern that many Nigerians would struggle to afford the new fee, warning that some students could be forced to abandon their education as a result.
Oke urged the government to either review the increase or introduce intervention measures to reduce its impact on economically disadvantaged families, stressing that affordable examination fees are essential to keeping children in school.
She also advocated for expanded government support programmes to ensure equal educational opportunities for vulnerable students.
A private school proprietor, Funmilayo Soyoye, also faulted the decision, saying the increase would affect not only current students but also graduates seeking employment or admission into higher institutions.
According to her, certificate verification is required for many academic and professional processes and should remain affordable. She urged the government to consider the economic challenges facing Nigerians before implementing such a significant increase.
Another school owner, who declined to be identified, called on the authorities to clearly explain the reasons behind the fee review. The proprietor insisted that any increase should be accompanied by noticeable improvements in service delivery, including faster and more accessible certificate verification.
A parent, Abdulfatai Ibrahim, appealed to the Federal Government to reverse the decision, arguing that families are already struggling with rising education costs. He urged the authorities to consult widely with stakeholders and adopt a more moderate fee structure.
On the other hand, education consultant Olamide Ogunkoya said the increase could be justified if it leads to better digital systems and more secure certificate verification.
She noted that investing in stronger verification platforms would help tackle certificate fraud and improve the credibility of Nigeria’s examination bodies. Nevertheless, she urged the government to strike a balance between generating revenue and ensuring citizens can still access essential education services, while also calling for broader consultations before implementing major education reforms.
According to the ministry’s memo addressed to the Registrar of NECO, the decision followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of SSCE registration fees and discussions held during a meeting of examination bodies with the Minister of Education on March 31, 2026. At the meeting, the minister directed both examination bodies to adopt a uniform registration fee, leading to the approval of N50,000 as the standard fee for NECO and WAEC SSCE candidates from the 2027 examination cycle.