Harmonised SSCE charges jump by 85% as government cites rising logistics and admin costs

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a new uniform registration fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), with effect from the 2027 academic session.

The decision marks a steep 85 per cent increase from existing base rates, as authorities point to mounting costs of logistics, materials, and overall examination administration.

The approval was conveyed in an official directive dated June 18, 2026, and signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education. The directive followed a formal request by WAEC for an upward review of examination fees.

The move was finalised after a high-level policy meeting held on March 31, 2026, where the Minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a harmonised pricing structure in order to eliminate discrepancies in their examination charges.

In furtherance of the directive, NECO issued an internal memo dated July 8, 2026, signed by Dr. Charles E. Udoh on behalf of the Registrar, and circulated to all State Coordinators nationwide.

The memo confirmed the implementation framework, stating that the ₦50,000 flat rate is now official policy and must be strictly applied to all NECO school-based examinations beginning in 2027.