The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Peter Obi, on Monday described the Federal Government’s suspension of the proposed increase in examination registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) as “a victory for the Nigerian people.”
Obi made the remark in a statement issued on Monday while reacting to the Federal Government’s decision to put on hold the planned upward review of examination fees for candidates from 2027 following widespread public criticism.
“I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people,” Obi said.
The Federal Ministry of Education had earlier announced the withdrawal of its June 18, 2026 letter approving the proposed fee adjustment, saying the decision followed public concerns and would allow for broader consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is reached.
The ministry explained that the proposed increase was necessitated by rising costs of conducting public examinations, including logistics, security, printing, technology deployment and quality assurance.
It added that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
Reacting, Obi commended the authorities for listening to Nigerians but maintained that the proposed increase should not have been introduced in the first place given the country’s prevailing economic realities.
“While I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor argued that education should be made more accessible, especially as many Nigerian families continue to struggle with rising living costs.
“At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, access to education should be expanded, not restricted. Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue,” Obi stated.
He warned that introducing additional financial obligations at the basic education level could worsen the country’s out-of-school children crisis.
“Imposing multiple fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education. At that stage, the State has a duty to invest in educating and preparing its citizens for productive lives, not to erect financial barriers that keep them out of school,” he said.
Obi further urged the Federal Government to review other policies that impose hardship on Nigerians, saying responsive leadership requires the courage to reverse unpopular decisions when necessary.
“True leadership is demonstrated not only by making decisions but also by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people. Many other anti-people policies deserve similar reconsideration,” he added.
He also acknowledged the role played by Nigerians in securing the policy reversal.
“I thank the citizens, parents, and advocacy groups whose voices made this reversal possible,” Obi said.
The Federal Government had initially approved an increase in the registration fee for WAEC and NECO examinations from N27,500 to N50,000 for candidates beginning from 2027, representing an 82 per cent hike.
The proposal attracted widespread condemnation from stakeholders, including parents, education advocates, students’ groups and opposition figures, before the government suspended its implementation pending consultations.
