Candidates To Pay ₦50,000 As FG Approves 82% Increase In WAEC, NECO Examination Fees

The Federal Government has approved a new examination fee of ₦50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), beginning from the 2027 examination cycle.

The approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the examination fee. The previous registration fee stood at ₦27,500, meaning the new fee represents an increase of approximately 82 percent.

According to the Ministry of Education, the decision was reached after a meeting between the Minister of Education and representatives of the examination bodies on March 31, 2026, during which the need to review examination fees was discussed.

The ministry stated that the Minister directed both WAEC and NECO to adopt a uniform registration fee for their Senior School Certificate Examinations.

As a result, the Ministry approved ₦50,000 as the official examination fee per candidate, effective from the 2027 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (Internal) and to be adopted for WAEC as well.

The Ministry has also directed that the new fee be communicated to all relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate awareness and implementation ahead of the 2027 examination period.

Confirming the development, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education said the government had officially approved the upward review of the examination fees after consultations with the appropriate department.

The new fee is expected to take effect from the 2027 examination session for both WAEC and NECO candidates across the country.