FG Approves N50,000 WAEC, NECO Examination Fee From 2027, Sparks Reactions

The Federal Government has approved a significant increase in the registration fee for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), with candidates expected to pay N50,000 from 2027.

The new fee, which takes effect from the 2027 NECO SSCE (Internal) examination, represents an 82 per cent increase over the current N27,500 charged per candidate. The approval was contained in a statement dated June 18 and signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the statement, the decision followed WAEC's request for an upward review of the examination registration fee. The ministry explained that the issue was discussed during a meeting on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, in which the rising cost of conducting national examinations was considered.

During the meeting, the Minister of Education reportedly directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform examination fee for their Senior School Certificate Examinations.

The statement read:

“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.”

It further stated:

“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50,000) only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”

The Federal Ministry of Education also instructed that the new directive be communicated to all relevant stakeholders ahead of its implementation. The announcement has already sparked conversations among Nigerians, with many expressing concern over the sharp increase in examination costs amid the country’s current economic challenges.

With the new fee set to take effect in 2027, many Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether additional support measures are introduced to help students from low-income families access the examinations without undue financial hardship.