FG Approves 82% Hike in WAEC, NECO Fees, Sets N50,000 Charge

The Federal Government has approved an 82 per cent increase in examination fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), raising the registration charge for candidates to N50,000 from 2027.

The new fee, which replaces the current N27,500 registration charge, will apply to candidates sitting the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by both examination bodies.

The approval was conveyed in a statement dated June 18 and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim.

According to the ministry, the decision followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees for candidates from 2027.

The statement explained that the approval was based on resolutions reached at a meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies on March 31, 2026, where stakeholders considered the need to review the cost of conducting the examinations.

Following the meeting, the minister directed WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform registration fee for their respective Senior School Certificate Examinations.

“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31 March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.

It added: “Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00) only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”

The ministry directed that the decision be communicated to all relevant stakeholders ahead of its implementation.

The revised fee represents an increase of N22,500 over the existing N27,500 charge, translating to an 82 per cent rise in the cost of registering candidates for the examinations.

Confirming the development, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the Federal Government had approved the review of the examination fees.

“I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees. I spoke with the director in charge a few minutes ago and he said the approval was done,” she said.

The government said the new fee would take effect from the 2027 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (Internal), while WAEC is also expected to implement the approved rate in line with the directive establishing a uniform examination fee for both bodies.

The decision is expected to affect thousands of secondary school candidates who sit the annual SSCE conducted by WAEC and NECO across the country.