Nigeria Suspends Proposed ₦50,000 School Examination Fee Hike

The Federal Ministry of Education suspended a proposed uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 per candidate for the 2027 National Examinations Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations on July 13, 2026. The plan would have significantly increased costs from previous rates that ranged between ₦27,000 and ₦30,000.

The ministry initially justified the hike by citing prevailing economic realities and rising operational costs, including security and logistics. However, the proposal faced immediate condemnation from stakeholders, including the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, who argued the fees were too steep for low-income families during a period of high inflation.

Following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of Education Maruf Tunji Alausa, the government withdrew the June 18 proposal to allow for broader consultations with state ministries, parents, and labor organizations. Political figures reacted to the reversal with a mix of praise and criticism. Peter Obi described the move as a victory for the Nigerian people, asserting that education is a public good rather than a revenue source. Atiku Abubakar also welcomed the suspension but criticized the administration's policy formulation process, characterizing the government's approach as treating the country like a laboratory for reckless experiments.