Reporting by The Guardian indicates that the Federal Ministry of Education has halted its proposed tariff hike for the 2027 WAEC and NECO registration fees. The controversial policy, which sought to raise registration fees uniformly to ₦50,000 from the previous rates of ₦27,000 and ₦30,000, was withdrawn to make room for extensive stakeholder dialogue.
According to the ministry, the initial plan to hike the fees was triggered by the escalating operational and logistical costs of holding secure national examinations. However, the sharp public backlash, particularly regarding the potential to worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, forced authorities to reconsider.
Validating this development, The Sun noted that “the proposed review of registration fees has been put on hold to prevent imposing additional financial burdens on parents”. Echoing this relief, Neusroom reported that the decision was a direct result of “constructive feedback and public backlash from parents and educators”.
Echotitbits take: This policy reversal shows the power of public and political pressure under the current administration. While WAEC and NECO do face genuine inflationary pressures in printing and logistics, a sharp hike would have priced millions of vulnerable teenagers out of a high school education.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/fg-halts-n50000-waec-neco-fee-hike-amid-outrage/?utm_source=auto-read-also&utm_medium=web, July 14, 2026
Photo credit: Daily Post
