The Federal Government has approved a uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), with implementation scheduled to commence from the 2027 examination cycle.

 

The decision is aimed at harmonizing the registration costs of Nigeria’s two major secondary school leaving examinations amid rising operational expenses and economic challenges affecting the education sector.

 

Under the new arrangement, the WAEC registration fee will increase from ₦27,000 to ₦50,000, representing an 82 percent rise, while the NECO fee will move from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000, marking an increase of about 66.7 percent.

 

The approval was contained in an official memo dated June 18, 2026, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Mr. Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education. According to the ministry, the review followed a request by WAEC for an upward adjustment of examination fees to address escalating operational costs.

 

Following a stakeholders’ meeting held on March 31, 2026, the Minister of Education reportedly directed both examination bodies to adopt a uniform fee structure as part of efforts to manage prevailing economic realities and ensure the sustainability of examination services.

 

The Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, subsequently confirmed the directive.

 

The announcement has generated widespread reactions among parents, education stakeholders, and policymakers. Concerns have been raised over the potential financial burden on households already grappling with rising living costs.

 

Education observers have also noted that state governments which traditionally sponsor examination fees for public school students may face increased budgetary pressure under the new pricing regime. Others fear the adjustment could lead to higher levels of unpaid examination registration obligations by schools and state authorities.

 

Parents and advocacy groups have expressed concerns that additional expenses such as administrative charges, e-registration fees, and study materials could further increase the overall cost of secondary school completion, particularly for students from low-income families.

 

As implementation approaches, stakeholders are urging the government to consider support measures, including subsidies and targeted interventions, to ensure that financially disadvantaged students are not excluded from accessing essential secondary school certification examinations.

 

The policy is expected to take full effect from the 2027 SSCE registration cycle, with education stakeholders closely monitoring its impact on student enrollment and examination participation nationwide.