FG Increases WAEC, NECO Fees

The Federal Government has approved an increase in the registration fees for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Under the new arrangement, candidates registering for the 2027 internal SSCE will pay N50,000 each. The approval was granted through the Federal Ministry of Education.

The new fee represents a sharp increase for both examination bodies. NECO’s internal SSCE registration fee will rise from N30,000 to N50,000, while WAEC’s fee will increase from N27,000 to the same amount.

The approval was contained in a memo dated June 18, 2026, and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

According to the document, the decision followed discussions held during a meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies on March 31, 2026. During the meeting, both WAEC and NECO were directed to adopt a single registration fee for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations.

The ministry subsequently approved N50,000 as the new fee for candidates sitting the NECO internal SSCE from 2027. The memo also instructed the examination body to inform all relevant stakeholders about the new policy.

The increase is expected to affect many state governments that currently pay examination fees for public school students. Some states already owe outstanding payments to the examination bodies, and the higher registration cost may add to those financial obligations.

There are also concerns that parents in states where governments do not cover examination fees may struggle to afford the new amount. Some observers fear that the increase could prevent many eligible students from registering for the examinations.

In Lagos State, the government currently pays the registration fees for candidates writing the WAEC Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, while parents who are able to do so cover the cost of NECO registration for their children. With the new fee taking effect from 2027, families and state governments may face higher financial demands to keep students enrolled for the examinations.