The Federal Government has suspended its proposed increase in 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 concern over the planned adjustment.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education announced the withdrawal of its June 18, 2026, letter conveying the proposed fee increase.

The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the decision was taken to allow for broader consultations and a comprehensive review before any final determination is made.

“The Federal Ministry of Education announces that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement said.

The proposal would have increased the registration fee for both examinations from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 from 2027, representing an 82 per cent rise.

The ministry explained that the review was prompted by the rising cost of conducting public examinations nationwide, noting that examination fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational expenses.

According to the ministry, escalating costs associated with logistics, security, printing examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance, and other essential services have continued to place pressure on the examination bodies.

However, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, directed that implementation of the proposal be suspended pending consultations.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based policymaking,” the statement added.

The ministry stressed that no adjustment to examination fees would take effect until consultations with stakeholders had been concluded.

It said the consultation process would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders, and other relevant partners.

The ministry added that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that policies affecting students and their families are subjected to adequate scrutiny and reflect the public interest.

It reaffirmed that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education, and responsible policymaking remain central to the government’s education agenda.

The ministry also pledged to keep Nigerians informed throughout the consultation process before any final decision is taken on the proposed fee review.