Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government's decision to suspend the 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), describing the move as "a victory for the Nigerian people".
The Federal Government on Monday, 13 July 2026, withdrew its June 18, 2026 letter that had approved the proposed fee adjustment, which would have raised the registration fee from approximately ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 for both examinations. The Ministry of Education said the suspension was to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is taken.
Reacting in a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi commended the government for listening to the widespread public outcry but argued that the proposed increase should never have been introduced given the country's economic hardship. "I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people," he wrote.
Obi said the proposed fee review would have placed an additional burden on families already grappling with economic hardship and could have further restricted access to education. "While I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria," he stated.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that education should remain accessible to all Nigerians. "At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, access to education should be expanded, not restricted. Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue," Obi said. He also warned that imposing multiple fees at the basic education level could deny many children their right to education. "At that stage, the State has a duty to invest in educating and preparing its citizens for productive lives, not to erect financial barriers that keep them out of school," he added.
Obi further stated that true leadership is demonstrated not only by making decisions but also by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people. He urged the government to reconsider other policies he described as anti-people and thanked parents, citizens and advocacy groups whose opposition to the proposed fee increase contributed to the government's decision to suspend the policy.
The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, explained that although the review was necessitated by rising operational costs of conducting public examinations, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended to allow for broader consultations. The proposed hike had attracted widespread criticism from parents, education stakeholders and advocacy groups, who warned that the higher fees could further limit access to secondary education, particularly for students from low-income families.
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