The Federal Government has approved a new registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
The new fee will take effect from the 2027 examination cycle and will apply to internal candidates in secondary schools across the country.
The decision marks a significant increase in the cost of registering for the two examinations. Under the new arrangement, NECO candidates will pay N50,000 instead of the current N30,000, while WAEC candidates will pay N50,000, up from N27,000.
The approval was conveyed in an official memo dated June 18, 2026. The document was signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
According to the memo, the adjustment followed discussions between the Ministry of Education and examination bodies on the rising cost of conducting public examinations across the country.
Part of the memo stated: “Re: Upward review of registration fees for examinations conducted by NECO
The West African Examinations Council has requested an upward review of the examination fees for the Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates, with effect from 2027.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31st March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fee was discussed, the Honourable Minister of Education directed that the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only, as the new examination fee for candidates with effect from NECO SSCE internal 2027.
“You are to bring the content of this letter to all stakeholders.
Please accept the Honourable Minister’s warm regards.”
The development is expected to generate reactions from parents, education stakeholders and state governments, many of whom have struggled with the rising cost of funding secondary education.
Several state governments currently shoulder the burden of examination registration fees for students in public schools. The latest increase is likely to place additional pressure on state finances, especially in states already facing difficulties in settling obligations owed to examination bodies.
There are also concerns that the new fee could make it harder for some students to register for the examinations, particularly in states where governments do not provide support for candidates.
Education stakeholders fear that the increase may affect enrollment figures if families are unable to cope with the higher cost.
In Lagos State, the government currently pays the WAEC registration fee for eligible public school students, while many parents cover the cost of NECO registration themselves. With the new rate set at N50,000, parents and guardians may face a heavier financial burden.
