FG raises WAEC, NECO SSCE registration fee by 82% to N50,000 from 2027

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FG raises WAEC, NECO SSCE registration fee by 82% to N50,000 from 2027

The Federal Government (FG) has approved a new registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), with the new rate taking effect from the 2027 examination cycle.

The approval marks an 82 per cent increase from the current N27,500 registration fee and establishes a uniform examination fee for candidates taking the two senior secondary school examinations across the country.

The decision was conveyed in a statement dated June 18, 2026, signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the ministry, the approval followed a formal request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees ahead of the 2027 examinations due to the rising cost of conducting nationwide examinations.

Ibrahim explained that the approval was based on resolutions reached during a meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and heads of examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where stakeholders deliberated on the need to review examination charges in line with prevailing economic realities.

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He said the minister also directed WAEC and NECO to harmonise their registration fees so that candidates would pay the same amount regardless of the examination body.

According to the statement, “You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on March 31, 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.” It added: “Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of N50,000 only as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal) 2027.”

The ministry directed both examination bodies to communicate the new fee to state ministries of education, school administrators, principals and other relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate awareness and seamless implementation before the 2027 examination period.

Confirming the development, the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the approval had been granted after consultations within the ministry. She confirmed that the upward review had received official approval and would be implemented as scheduled.

The Federal Government explained that the fee review became necessary because of the increasing cost of organising national examinations. According to education officials, examination bodies have faced significantly higher expenses in recent years, including the cost of printing examination materials, transporting sensitive documents, deploying security personnel, paying supervisors and examiners, expanding digital infrastructure, improving logistics and maintaining the integrity of examinations across Nigeria.

Officials said the harmonised fee is expected to help WAEC and NECO sustain the quality, credibility and security of public examinations while eliminating disparities in registration charges between the two examination bodies.

The fee increase also comes as part of broader reforms being implemented by the Federal Government to modernise Nigeria’s examination system. The government has announced plans to fully transition WAEC and NECO examinations to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), strengthen measures against examination malpractice and expand the use of digital technology to improve examination administration, result processing and overall efficiency. The Ministry of Education has consistently maintained that these reforms are aimed at improving transparency, enhancing the credibility of public examinations and aligning Nigeria’s assessment system with international best practices.

The announcement is expected to generate mixed reactions among parents, students, school owners and other education stakeholders. While supporters argue that the increase reflects inflation and the rising cost of administering credible nationwide examinations, critics are likely to express concern over the additional financial burden on families already grappling with the country’s high cost of living.

Education advocates have also urged the Federal Government to introduce more scholarships, examination subsidies and financial support programmes to ensure that students from low-income families are not denied the opportunity to sit for the WAEC and NECO SSCE because of financial constraints.

Unless there is a policy reversal, all candidates registering for the 2027 WAEC and NECO SSCE examinations will pay the new N50,000 registration fee under the harmonised pricing structure approved by the Federal Government.