By Matthew Eloyi
For many Nigerians, the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) was more than a policy reversal. It was an admission that major decisions affecting millions of families cannot be justified merely by citing “economic realities.”
The suspension has also raised an uncomfortable question: if the proposal could be withdrawn so quickly after public backlash, was it sufficiently thought through before it was announced?
Education is not just another public service. It is a constitutional and moral obligation of government. Public examinations are gateways to higher education and employment, and every additional financial burden placed on candidates inevitably affects access to those opportunities.
That is why many Nigerians struggled to understand the logic behind the proposed increase in examination registration fees in the first place.
At a time when inflation has eroded household incomes, food prices remain high and parents are already burdened by rising school fees, transportation costs and the soaring prices of textbooks and learning materials, asking families to pay more merely to register for secondary school examinations appeared disconnected from prevailing realities.
On Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education announced that it had suspended the proposal.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Folasade Boriowo, said the ministry had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed adjustment.
According to Boriowo, the ministry has withdrawn its June 18, 2026 letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment to allow for a comprehensive review and wider consultations with relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
The explanation itself raises an important governance question. Why were the consultations not held before the proposal was announced?
Good public policy is usually built on engagement. Governments consult first, gather evidence, assess the likely impact on citizens and only then announce decisions. Reversing that sequence often creates avoidable controversy, exactly as happened in this case.
Boriowo said the decision followed concerns and constructive feedback from members of the public over the proposed increase.
That feedback reflected more than public dissatisfaction. It exposed widespread concern that increasing examination fees could force vulnerable students out of the education system or place even greater financial pressure on already struggling households.
The ministry has argued that the proposed review was driven by rising operational costs.
Boriowo further explained that the proposed review was necessitated by prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations.
She listed the increasing costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other essential services as factors responsible for the proposal.
Those challenges are real. Inflation affects government agencies just as it affects businesses and households. However, many education stakeholders contend that the solution should not automatically be to transfer those costs to students.
National examinations are public goods that support the country’s human capital development. If the cost of administering them continues to rise, many argue that government should first explore efficiency measures, budgetary support and alternative funding mechanisms before asking parents to shoulder additional financial burdens.
The ministry’s decision to suspend the proposal suggests it recognises the importance of broader engagement.
According to Boriowo, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the federal government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
The ministry said it would now engage examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders as part of the fresh review process.
For many observers, those consultations should have preceded the proposal rather than followed public opposition.
In the meantime, the ministry has assured Nigerians that no increase will be implemented.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” she said.
The episode offers an important lesson for policymakers. Policies affecting education—particularly those with direct financial consequences for families—must be supported by compelling evidence, transparent consultations and a clear demonstration that all other options have been exhausted.
Without those elements, even well-intentioned proposals risk being perceived as insensitive.
Boriowo reaffirmed that the welfare of students, equitable access to quality education and responsible policy decisions remained central to the federal government’s education agenda.
She also appreciated Nigerians for their understanding, patience and continued support, assuring that the public would be kept informed throughout the consultation process.
Ultimately, the government’s decision to suspend the fee review may have prevented additional hardship for millions of families. But the bigger lesson extends beyond examination fees. In a period of economic strain, Nigerians expect policies that ease the burden of education—not ones that make the journey to the examination hall more expensive.
If the consultation process is to achieve its purpose, it should begin with a simple principle: access to education should never become a casualty of fiscal pressures.