The Federal Ministry of Education has given approval for the National Examinations Council, NECO and the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, to increase registration fee for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, SSCE, to N50,000 per candidate, beginning in 2027.
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The increment drew the ire of National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and former vice president and presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC, who described it as further punishment on already struggling parents and guardians.
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The examinations are conducted for internal candidates who are finishing their Senior Secondary School education. WAEC just finished this year’s exam few weeks ago, while NECO’s ongoing.
The increase would see NECO SSCE internal examination fee jumping from N30,000 per candidate to N50,000, while that of WAEC would jump to the same amount from N27,000.
A memo approving the new rate, dated June 18, 2026, was signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
The memo, sighted by Vanguard, and directed to the Registrar, NECO, read: “Re: Upward review of registration fees for examinations conducted by NECO
‘’The West African Examinations Council has requested an upward review of examination fees for Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates with effect from 2027.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fee was discussed, the Minister of Education directed that the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE.
Consequently, I am directed to convey the Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only, as the new examination fee for candidates with effect from NECO SSCE internal 2027.
You are to bring the content of this letter to all stakeholders. Please accept the Minister’s warm regards.”
Meanwhile, there are indications that the development would further increase the debts owed the examination bodies by some state governments paying the exam fees of candidates,
Also, some parents are expressing the fear that many candidates might not be able to register for the exams in states where the government is not paying the fees.
In Lagos State for instance, the state government pays the fee for candidates writing WAEC SSCE and parents who can afford it, pay that of NECO for their children.
SSCE fee increase: NAPTAN says it is too high
Reacting to the increment yesterday, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, described the increase as too high.
Speaking with Vanguard, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of NAPTAN, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said the increase ought not to be that steep, bearing in mind all other expenses parents bear on their children.
“The increase is too high for our liking and acceptance. If the examination bodies are seeking increase, citing cost of living, I think it should be a bit progressive, may be at most 25 per cent. But what they are asking for now is surely over 75 per cent. That is on the high side.
“Apart from paying examination fees and others, parents have a lot of responsibilities on their children. There are other obligations to meet. The new rate will be a burden on parents and that is why we want them to have a rethink.
‘’Okay, what will now be the benefit if a child gets to SSS 3 class and is unable to register for the final examination on account of high registration fee. Let them please bring the rate down,’’ he pleaded.
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