The Federal Government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), following widespread public concerns and in preparation for broader stakeholder consultations.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its earlier letter dated June 18, 2026, which conveyed the proposed fee adjustment, to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is taken.

According to the Ministry, the suspension reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking on issues affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families.

The Ministry explained that the proposed fee review was initially prompted by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations. It noted that examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational expenses, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other critical services required to sustain the integrity of public examinations.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold to enable wider consultations with key stakeholders across the education sector.

As part of the review process, the Ministry said it would engage examination bodies, State Ministries of Education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders to ensure that any future decision is fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to current realities.

It stressed that the proposed increase in examination registration fees will not take effect until the consultation process is completed.

The Ministry reaffirmed that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the education sector.

It also thanked Nigerians for their constructive feedback, understanding and continued support, assuring the public that they would be kept informed throughout the consultation process.