FG Hikes WAEC, NECO Examination Fees To ₦50,000

The Federal Government has approved N50,000 as the new examination fee for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) for secondary school candidates, effective from 2027.

In a statement dated June 18 and signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, the government said the approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the fee for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) beginning from 2027.

According to the statement, the decision was reached after a meeting between examination bodies and the Minister of Education held on March 31, 2026, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.

The ministry said the minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform examination fee for the conduct of their SSCE examinations.

“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31 March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Honourable Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.

“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00) only as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”

The ministry directed that the decision be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.

Confirming the development to TheCable on Saturday, the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Folasade Boriowo, said the government had approved the upward review of the examination fees.

“I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees. I spoke with the director in charge a few minutes ago and he said the approval was done,” Boriowo said.