The Federal Government has approved a new examination fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), with the new rate taking effect from 2027.
The new fee represents an 82% increase from the current N27,500 charged per candidate.
This was contained in a statement issued on June 18, 2026, by Adeniji Ibrahim, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the statement, the approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the SSCE registration fee.
Ibrahim explained that the decision was reached after a March 31, 2026 meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed. He further informed that the minister also directed both WAEC and NECO 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 added, “Consequently, I am directed to convey the honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of fifty thousand naira (N50,000.00) only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027.”
The ministry said the directive should be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
