The Federal Government has approved an 82% increment in the examination fee of candidates sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
A new fee of ₦50,000 per candidate will effectively commence from 2027, as against the ₦27,500 being currently paid for the same examination.
The new WAEC, NECO Examination Fee
The new fee represented 82 per cent increase from the current ₦27,500 charged per candidate.
The approval was contained in a statement, dated 18 June, 2026, and signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education.
It reportedly followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the SSCE registration fee.
According to Ibrahim, the decision was reached after a meeting between the Minister of Education and the two examination bodies, held on 31 March, 2026.
It was said that the need to review examination fees was discussed at the meeting.
He further stated that the minister also directed the two examination bodies to adopt a uniform examination fee.
“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.
It was added: “Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of fifty thousand naira (₦50,000.00) only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”
The ministry further instructed that the directive should be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
