The Federal Government has announced an upward review of the fee payable by candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The increase which indicated an 82 per cent showed that candidates would from 2027 be expected to pay N50,000 as against N27,500 to qualify them to sit for the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).
The development also showed that the government has approved a uniform examination fee structure for the two major senior secondary school examination bodies.
These were contained in a statement dated June 18, 2026, by Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, stating that the decision followed discussions between examination bodies and the Minister of Education during a meeting held on March 31, 2026.
Ibrahim explained that at the meeting, the need for an upward review of examination fees was considered, adding that the minister subsequently directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to adopt a common fee for the conduct of their SSCE examinations.
The statement read in part; “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 statement further directed that the approval should be communicated to all relevant stakeholders, including schools, parents, and examination administrators.
While confirming the increase, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said the government had approved the upward review of the examination fees.
Boriowo said; “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”.
