Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi have 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. The WAEC fee suspension followed widespread criticism after the government announced plans to increase registration fees for both examinations to ₦50,000.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the planned adjustment had been placed on hold to allow for broader consultations with stakeholders. In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the decision followed public reactions and constructive feedback from Nigerians.
According to the ministry, the proposed increase was initially driven by rising operational costs associated with conducting national examinations, including logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance. The statement added that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed the suspension in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said consultations would involve examination bodies, state ministries of education, school administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders before any final decision is taken. It also assured Nigerians that the proposed increase would not take effect until the review process is completed.
Reacting to the WAEC fee suspension, Atiku Abubakar described the government’s decision as a victory for millions of Nigerian parents, students, civil society groups and citizens who opposed the proposed increase. In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president argued that increasing examination fees would have widened educational inequality and made access to education more difficult for many families.
He also questioned why the government frequently introduces policies before consulting stakeholders, only to reverse them after public criticism. According to Atiku, responsible governance requires proper consultation before major policy decisions are announced.
Peter Obi also welcomed the government’s decision, describing it as “a victory for the Nigerian people.” In a post shared on his official X account, the former Anambra State governor praised the authorities for responding to public concerns but maintained that the proposed increase should never have been introduced.
Obi said Nigeria should prioritise greater investment in basic education rather than imposing additional financial burdens on students and their families. He argued that education is a fundamental right and should not become a source of government revenue.
The NDC presidential candidate also urged the government to review other policies that place financial pressure on Nigerians while expressing appreciation to parents, advocacy groups and citizens whose public engagement contributed to the policy suspension.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda. It assured parents, students and other stakeholders that future decisions on examination fees would be based on extensive consultations and would reflect prevailing economic realities while protecting access to education.
