The Federal Government has approved a new registration fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), with the revised fee taking effect from the 2027 examination cycle.
The decision represents a significant increase in examination costs. NECO’s internal SSCE registration fee will rise from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000, while WAEC’s fee will increase from ₦27,000 to the same amount.
According to an official memo issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the approval follows discussions on the growing cost of administering public examinations and a directive that both examination bodies should adopt a uniform registration fee.
The memo, dated June 18, 2026, was signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education on behalf of the Minister of Education and instructed NECO to notify all relevant stakeholders ahead of implementation.
The ministry explained that the decision followed consultations with examination bodies earlier in the year, during which the need to review examination fees was discussed.
Officials said adopting a single fee structure for both WAEC and NECO would standardise registration costs for candidates writing the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination from 2027 onward.
Parents express concern over affordability
The announcement has generated criticism from parents and education stakeholders, many of whom argue that the increase comes at a difficult time for Nigerian households already battling rising living costs.
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) described the hike as excessive, saying the increase places an additional financial burden on families already struggling to meet educational expenses.
NAPTAN’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, argued that while examination fees could be reviewed in response to inflation, the increase should have been gradual rather than jumping by more than 70 percent. He warned that some students may be unable to complete their secondary education if they cannot afford to register for the qualifying examinations.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declined to take a firm position on the fee increase.
Its National President, Audu Titus Amba, said the issue primarily concerns parents and candidates, noting that the union’s focus remains on teachers’ welfare and professional matters. He added that the organisation would address broader education-sector issues during a scheduled press briefing.
Education stakeholders also fear the new fees could increase the financial burden on state governments that currently sponsor candidates’ external examination registrations. Several states already pay WAEC fees for public secondary school students, while some also subsidise or fully cover NECO registration.
Analysts warn that higher fees could lead to larger outstanding debts owed by states to examination bodies or force governments to reduce the number of students they sponsor. In states where parents bear the full cost of registration, many fear that some students may be unable to sit for their final secondary school examinations.
Growing debate over education costs
The approval has reignited debate over the affordability of education in Nigeria as inflation continues to squeeze household incomes.
While authorities argue that higher fees reflect the increasing cost of conducting nationwide examinations, critics insist that making secondary school certification more expensive could discourage school completion, particularly among students from low-income families.
The new ₦50,000 registration fee is expected to take effect for candidates registering for the 2027 WAEC and NECO Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations.
