The Federal Government has suspended 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 (SSCE) following widespread public criticism and calls for broader consultations with stakeholders.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced the decision on Monday, saying it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 circular that conveyed the proposed fee adjustment.

The suspension means the planned increase will no longer take effect until consultations with relevant stakeholders have been concluded.

In a statement signed by the ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the government said it took the decision after considering the concerns and constructive feedback expressed by Nigerians over the proposed hike.

According to the ministry, the suspension reflects the Federal Government's commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking, stressing that any future decision on examination fees would emerge only after extensive engagement with stakeholders across the education sector.

The statement further disclosed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold to allow consultations with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, school administrators, parents' associations, organised labour and other key stakeholders.

The ministry reiterated that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remain central to the Federal Government's education agenda.

It assured Nigerians that no increase in registration fees would be implemented until the review process is completed.

The suspension comes barely 24 hours after reports emerged that the Federal Government had approved a uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the 2027 WAEC and NECO SSCE examinations.

The proposal would have raised the WAEC registration fee from about ₦27,000 to ₦50,000, while the NECO fee would have increased from ₦30,000 to the same amount.

The proposed increase had generated strong reactions from parents, education stakeholders, labour groups, students and opposition figures, who argued that the new fees would place an additional financial burden on families already grappling with rising living costs and could deny many students access to secondary school certification examinations.