By Peace Erewunmi

The Federal Government has approved a new uniform examination fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), effective from the 2027 examination cycle. The new fee represents an increase of about 82% from the current charge for WAEC candidates.

The approval was conveyed in a letter dated June 18, 2026, signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education. According to the ministry, the decision followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees and discussions held at a meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies on March 31, 2026.

The ministry explained that both WAEC and NECO would now adopt a uniform examination fee for their internal SSCE examinations. Under the new arrangement, every candidate registering for either examination from 2027 will pay ₦50,000.

Officials said the review became necessary because of rising operational costs associated with conducting nationwide examinations. The government noted that the new fee is intended to help examination bodies sustain the quality, credibility, and smooth administration of the examinations while maintaining a common pricing structure.

The Ministry of Education also directed that the approval be communicated to all relevant stakeholders ahead of implementation. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, confirmed that the approval had been granted following due consideration by the government.

The increase has generated mixed reactions among education stakeholders. While some acknowledge that examination costs have risen over the years, others have expressed concern that the higher fee could place additional financial pressure on parents and guardians, particularly in states where governments do not sponsor examination registration for public school students.

Some state governments currently pay WAEC registration fees for eligible public secondary school students. However, education analysts warn that the new fee could significantly increase government expenditure in such states and may also affect candidates whose families bear the full cost of registration.

The new fee will take effect beginning with the 2027 internal Senior School Certificate Examinations conducted by WAEC and NECO. The Federal Government says the policy is aimed at ensuring a sustainable funding model for both examination bodies while maintaining the integrity and standard of Nigeria’s secondary school leaving examinations.