Nigeria approves N50,000 WAEC NECO fee
Analysis based on 15 articles · First reported Jul 12, 2026 · Last updated Jul 12, 2026
The fee increase may raise operational costs for state governments that sponsor candidates, potentially increasing their debt to examination bodies. It could also reduce demand for secondary education services and increase financial strain on low-income households.
The Nigeria has approved an increase in registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) to N50,000 per candidate, effective from 2027. The approval, conveyed by the Federal Ministry of Education, harmonizes fees for both examination bodies. The decision followed a request by WAEC and a meeting between the Minister of Education Tunji Alausa and examination bodies on March 31, 2026. The new fee represents an 82% increase from the previous N27,500 for WAEC and a 67% increase from N30,000 for NECO. The policy is expected to strain state government budgets that subsidize exam fees and may increase financial burden on parents, potentially reducing candidate turnout.
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