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FG increases WAEC and NECO registration fees, new fees to take effect 2027
The Federal Government has approved an increase in the registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) for school candidates, effective from 2027.
Under the new policy, candidates registering for the 2027 internal SSCE will pay a uniform fee of ₦50,000. This marks a significant increase from the current fees of ₦27,000 for WAEC and ₦30,000 for NECO.
The approval was conveyed in a memo dated 18 June 2026, 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 ministry, the decision followed a meeting between the Minister of Education and the examination bodies on 31 March 2026, during which both WAEC and NECO were directed to adopt a uniform examination fee.
The ministry also instructed NECO to notify all relevant stakeholders of the new fee ahead of its implementation for the 2027 SSCE.
The increase has sparked concern among stakeholders, with many warning that it could place additional financial pressure on state governments that sponsor candidates’ examination fees. Parents in states that do not provide such support have also expressed fears that the higher fee could prevent many students from registering for the examinations.
In states such as Lagos, where the government currently covers WAEC fees for public school candidates, the new policy is expected to increase the financial burden on state governments.