The Federal Government has approved an increase in the registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) to ₦50,000 per candidate, effective from 2027. The approval, granted by the Federal Ministry of Education, is aimed at introducing a uniform examination fee for both bodies.

Under the new policy, NECO's SSCE registration fee will rise from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000, while WAEC's fee will increase from ₦27,000 to the same amount. The Ministry said the decision followed a meeting with examination bodies, where the need to review fees in line with rising operational costs was discussed.

The fee hike has drawn criticism from parents, education stakeholders, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who warned that it could increase the number of out-of-school children and place additional financial pressure on struggling families. They urged the Federal Government to reconsider the decision and make education more affordable.