FG Approves New WAEC and NECO Registration Fees for 2027 SSCE Candidates
The Federal Government has approved a significant increase in the registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for school candidates.
The new fees will take effect from the 2027 examination cycle.
New WAEC and NECO Registration Fee for 2027
Under the newly approved policy, all candidates registering for the 2027 internal Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) will pay a uniform registration fee of ₦50,000.
This marks a notable increase from the current fees:
WAEC SSCE (School Candidates): ₦27,000
NECO SSCE (School Candidates): ₦30,000
New Uniform Fee (Effective 2027): ₦50,000
The move is aimed at standardizing examination registration fees across both examination bodies.
Why the Registration Fee Was Increased
The approval was contained in an official memo dated June 18, 2026, signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
According to the ministry, the decision followed a strategic meeting held on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and officials of both WAEC and NECO. During the meeting, both examination bodies were directed to adopt a uniform registration fee for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination.
The ministry has also instructed NECO to notify all relevant stakeholders ahead of the implementation of the new fee structure in 2027.
Concerns Over the New ₦50,000 WAEC and NECO Fee
The announcement has generated mixed reactions among education stakeholders, parents, and students across Nigeria.
Many stakeholders have expressed concerns that the higher registration fee could:
Increase the financial burden on parents and guardians.
Make it more difficult for low-income families to register their children for the examinations.
Increase the amount state governments spend on sponsoring public school candidates.
States that currently pay WAEC registration fees for students in public secondary schools—such as Lagos State—may need to allocate larger education budgets to accommodate the new charges.
Education advocates have also warned that without additional government support, the increase could discourage some eligible students from sitting for the SSCE, particularly in states where examination fees are not subsidized.
What Students and Parents Should Know
The new ₦50,000 registration fee will not apply immediately. Candidates writing WAEC or NECO in 2026 will continue to pay the current approved fees.
The revised fee structure will become effective starting with the 2027 WAEC and NECO Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
Parents, schools, and prospective candidates are encouraged to begin planning ahead for the new fee while awaiting further implementation guidelines from the examination bodies.
Key Highlights
The Federal Government has approved a new ₦50,000 registration fee for WAEC and NECO SSCE.
The new fee takes effect from the 2027 examination year.
Current fees remain ₦27,000 for WAEC and ₦30,000 for NECO until then.
The policy aims to create a uniform registration fee across both examination bodies.
Stakeholders have expressed concerns over the financial impact on parents and state governments.
Found this helpful? Share it with a friend.
Comments(0)