Atiku, Obi excited as FG suspends planned increase in WAEC, NECO registration fees

As former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart, Peter Obi, in the 2027 elections, breathe a sigh of relief, it's clear that the Federal Government's decision to suspend the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, and National Examinations Council, NECO, Senior School Certificate Examinations, SSCE, is a welcome respite for millions of students and their families. The announcement, made by the Federal Ministry of Education, is a direct response to the overwhelming condemnation of the planned fee increase, which had drawn fire from stakeholders, including Atiku Abubakar and the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN.

The proposed fee review, which would have seen a hike from N27,000 to N50,000 for WAEC and from N30,000 to N50,000 for NECO, was driven by the government's assertion that examination registration fees had remained largely unchanged for several years, despite rising operational expenses. While it's true that the cost of organising credible national examinations has increased, the proposed fee review was met with skepticism by many, who argued that the burden of the increase would fall disproportionately on students and their families. According to the Ministry of Education, the proposed adjustment was initially driven by the country's economic realities and the escalating cost of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance, and other critical services required to preserve the integrity of public examinations.

The decision to suspend the proposed fee review is a significant victory for Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who had been vocal in their opposition to the planned increase. For Atiku Abubakar, who has long been a champion of education, this is a welcome respite for millions of students and their families. As he noted, "Nigeria is not a lab for policy experiments." The suspension of the fee review is evidence of the power of advocacy and the importance of inclusive, transparent, and evidence-based policymaking. As Peter Obi pointed out, "the suspension of the hike in fees is a victory for the people."

The proposed fee review was not just about the cost of examinations; it was also about the broader issue of educational inequality in Nigeria. The country's education system is plagued by inequality, with many students from disadvantaged backgrounds struggling to access quality education. The proposed fee review would have only exacerbated this problem, pushing more students out of school and exacerbating the existing inequalities. The suspension of the fee review is a welcome step towards addressing these inequalities, but it's just the beginning. As the Ministry of Education noted, the decision reflects its determination to engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, and administrators to ensure that policies affecting millions of students and their families are subjected to broad consultation and carefully weighed before implementation.

In the coming weeks and months, we can expect to see a more comprehensive review of the policy, one that takes into account the concerns and feedback of stakeholders. This is a critical moment for the education sector, and it's essential that the government gets it right. As Atiku Abubakar noted, "Nigeria is not a lab for policy experiments." The suspension of the fee review is a welcome respite, but it's just the beginning. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar will be watching closely to see how the government implements this policy, and whether it will make good on its promise to prioritize the needs of students and their families.

As the Federal Government embarks on this fresh review process, one thing is clear: the politics of education in Nigeria is about to get a lot more interesting. With the suspension of the fee review, the government has opened the door to a more inclusive and equitable education system. But it's up to them to seize this opportunity and make it a reality.