The full gist
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) for school candidates, effective from 2027.
Under the new policy, candidates registering for the 2027 internal SSCE will pay a uniform fee of ₦50,000. This represents an increase from the current ₦27,000 charged by WAEC and ₦30,000 charged by NECO.
The approval was conveyed in a memo dated June 18, 2026, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
According to the ministry, the decision followed a meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where both WAEC and NECO were directed to adopt a uniform examination fee.
The ministry instructed NECO to communicate the new fee to all relevant stakeholders ahead of its implementation in the 2027 SSCE.
The increase has, however, raised concerns among stakeholders. Some fear it could worsen the debt burden of state governments that sponsor candidates' examination fees, while parents in states without such support worry that the higher fee may prevent many students from registering for the examinations.
In states like Lagos, where the government currently pays WAEC fees for public school candidates, the policy is expected to increase the financial commitment required from state governments.
What to note
- 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) for school candidates, effective from 2027.
- Under the new policy, candidates registering for the 2027 internal SSCE will pay a uniform fee of ₦50,000. This represents an increase from the current ₦27,000 charged by WAEC and ₦30,000 charged by NECO.
- According to the ministry, the decision followed a meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where both WAEC and NECO were directed to adopt a uniform examination fee.
- The ministry instructed NECO to communicate the new fee to all relevant stakeholders ahead of its implementation in the 2027 SSCE.
- The increase has, however, raised concerns among stakeholders. Some fear it could worsen the debt burden of state governments that sponsor candidates' examination fees, while parents in states without such support worry that the higher fee may prevent many students from registering for the examinations.