Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has approved a new uniform registration fee of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) for candidates sitting the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), effective from the 2027 examination cycle. The approval, which represents an 82 per cent increase from the current N27,500 paid by candidates, was conveyed in a June 18, 2026, statement signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the ministry, the decision followed a formal request by WAEC for an upward review of examination charges ahead of the 2027 examinations. Ibrahim explained that the approval was based on resolutions reached during a meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where the issue of increasing examination fees was considered. The statement noted that the minister also directed both examination bodies to harmonise their registration charges, ensuring a uniform fee structure for both WAEC and NECO SSCE. "You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the honourable minister of education on 31 March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the honourable minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE," the statement read. "Consequently, I am directed to convey the honourable minister of education’s approval of the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00) only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027."
The ministry directed that the approved fee be communicated to all relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance ahead of implementation. Confirming the development on Saturday, July 11, 2026, the Ministry of Education's Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, told TheCable that the approval had been granted. "I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees. I spoke with the director in charge a few minutes ago and he said the approval was done," Boriowo said.
The sharp 82 per cent hike from N27,500 to N50,000 has sparked widespread concern among parents, students, and civil society groups, who argue that the increase imposes a severe financial burden on Nigerian households already grappling with intense economic pressures and high inflation. The decision is expected to affect millions of secondary school candidates across the country, with many families already struggling to afford basic necessities. Critics have described the hike as a "blatant assault on Nigerian families" and a disregard for the economic realities facing the majority of citizens. The new fee takes effect from the 2027 NECO SSCE (Internal) and will apply to both WAEC and NECO candidates. As the 2027 examination cycle approaches, stakeholders are calling on the government to reconsider the hike or provide subsidies to cushion the impact on vulnerable families.
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