FG Approves Higher WAEC, NECO Examination Fees

The Federal Government has approved a fresh increase in the registration fees for the WAEC and NECO Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE). The new fee will take effect from 2027, with every candidate expected to pay N50,000. This decision came through the Federal Ministry of Education and applies to students sitting the internal SSCE at the end of their secondary school education.

Under the new arrangement, the NECO SSCE fee will rise from N30,000 to N50,000 per candidate. The WAEC SSCE fee will also increase from N27,000 to N50,000. WAEC examination fees and NECO SSCE fees will now follow the same pricing structure, following the ministry’s approval. This WAEC and NECO fees policy aims to create a uniform charge for both examination bodies.

A memo dated 18 June 2026, signed by Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education, confirmed the approval. The document explained that the decision followed a meeting with examination bodies on 31 March 2026, where officials agreed that both councils should charge the same fee. The memo also instructed NECO to inform all relevant stakeholders. It included the statement: “Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only, as the new examination fee for candidates with effect from NECO SSCE internal 2027.”

The announcement has raised fresh concerns among parents and education stakeholders. Some believe the higher WAEC and NECO fees could increase the debts already owed to the examination bodies by state governments that cover candidates’ registration costs. Others fear that students in states without government support may struggle to register. In Lagos State, the government pays the WAEC fee, while parents who can afford it settle the NECO registration cost for their children.

How do you think the new WAEC and NECO fees will affect access to secondary school examinations across Nigeria?