Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Federal Government has approved a new registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), with the revised rate taking effect from the 2027 examination cycle.
Under the new policy, the NECO SSCE registration fee will increase from N30,000 to N50,000, while the WAEC SSCE fee will rise from N27,000 to N50,000, creating a uniform registration fee for both examination bodies.
The approval was conveyed through the Federal Ministry of Education in a memo dated June 18, 2026, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
According to the memo, the adjustment follows a policy decision reached during a meeting between the Minister of Education and the management of WAEC and NECO on March 31, 2026.
At the meeting, both examination bodies were directed to adopt a harmonised registration fee for their internal SSCE examinations beginning in 2027.
The ministry stated that the move is intended to standardise examination charges across both bodies. WAEC recently concluded its 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination, while the 2026 NECO SSCE is currently in progress.
Part of the memo reads, “The West African Examinations Council has requested an upward review of the examination fees for the Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates, with effect from 2027.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31st March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fee was discussed, the Honourable Minister of Education directed that the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only, as the new examination fee for candidates with effect from NECO SSCE Internal 2027.
“You are to bring the content of this letter to all stakeholders.”
