The Federal Government has approved a new registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the Senior School Certificate Examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council and National Examinations Council, with the new rate taking effect from the 2027 examination cycle.
The approval was contained in a June 18 memo signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, following a request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees. The ministry also confirmed the approval through its spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo.
The new fee represents an increase of about 82 per cent from the current registration fee of N27,500, making it the first major upward review of the examination fee in recent years.
According to the ministry, the decision followed a meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
The memo stated that the Minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform registration fee for their Senior School Certificate Examinations.
It 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.”
The ministry added, “Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”
The directive further instructed the examination bodies to communicate the new fee to all relevant stakeholders ahead of its implementation.
The increase is expected to spark concerns among parents, students and education stakeholders over the rising cost of secondary education, particularly in states where governments do not pay examination fees for candidates. Some observers also fear the hike could increase the financial burden on families and widen the number of students unable to register for the examinations.
Okikiola Adewale is a young and vibrant undergraduate pen pusher with training in both print and digital journalism. He has a flair for writing, content development and people-oriented reporting to seek societal change.
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