By Ene Rebecca
July 13, 2026
The Federal Government has approved an increase in registration fees for candidates sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) organised by the National Examinations Council (NECO), with the new charges set to take effect from the 2027 examination cycle.
Under the new arrangement approved through the Federal Ministry of Education, candidates registering for both examinations will pay a uniform fee of ₦50,000. The adjustment represents an increase from the current registration fees of ₦27,000 for WAEC and ₦30,000 for NECO.
According to a ministry memorandum dated June 18, 2026, the approval was conveyed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, who signed the document on behalf of the Minister of Education. The memo stated that the decision followed consultations held earlier in the year between the ministry and the two examination bodies.
The document further directed that both WAEC and NECO adopt the harmonised registration fee beginning with the 2027 examination period. The ministry also instructed NECO to formally notify relevant stakeholders of the development.
The increase has drawn criticism from parents, education stakeholders and political figures, many of whom argue that the higher fees could place additional financial strain on households already grappling with rising living costs and economic pressures.
The development comes shortly after WAEC concluded its 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates, while NECO is still conducting its 2026 examination across the country.
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