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FG Introduces N50,000 Uniform Registration Fee for WAEC and NECO: What Every Student Should Know

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that it has approved N50,000 as the new examination registration fee for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) for secondary school students planning to sit for either examination starting from 2027.

The Federal Government approved the uniform fee following a request by senior officials of WAEC and NECO for an upward review of the fee for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for candidates from 2027 during a meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, held on March 31, 2026.

Before the 82% increment, the fee was N27,500, yet many parents struggled to register their wards for these important examinations. This hike has triggered outrage among many Nigerians, who are now asking the Federal Government how it intends to help students and parents navigate this complex situation, which is capable of increasing the number of out-of-school children across the country.

If you are planning to sit for WAEC or NECO in 2027 or have children preparing to write either examination, this OnadaPrep blog will expose you to everything you need to know about the new policy.

What Is the New Policy?

What this new policy means is that candidates planning to sit for either WAEC or NECO will now pay the newly approved registration fee of N50,000 for each examination. Before this recent approval, the registration fees for the two examinations differed due to other approved charges by both examination bodies.

In a statement released to announce the approval, the Federal Government stated that the policy is intended to create a more uniform and transparent examination registration process across the country.

Who Will Be Affected?

The newly approved N50,000 uniform registration fee for both WAEC and NECO by the Federal Government will affect:

• Senior secondary school students preparing for WAEC or NECO in 2027.
• Parents and guardians responsible for paying examination fees.
• Public and private secondary schools handling examination registrations.
• Other approved registration centres involved in processing candidates.

What Should Students Do Now?

Following the announcement of this policy, some individuals have been spreading an even higher registration fee. Students should, therefore, ignore the figures being circulated across social media platforms. Instead, they should:

• Confirm the newly approved registration fee through their school or the official communication channels of WAEC, NECO, or the Federal Ministry of Education.
• Ensure they register within the approved registration period to avoid the penalties that come with late registration.
• Ensure that all their payment receipts and registration documents are safely kept.
• Ensure that all personal information they submit during the registration process is accurate.

Does the New Fee Affect the Examination Itself?

No. The newly introduced uniform registration fee will have no effect on the examination dates, syllabuses, subject combinations, grading system, or admission requirements. The new policy only concerns the cost of registration and has no effect on the academic standards or conduct of WAEC and NECO examinations.

What Parents Should Know

During the registration period, there are some fraudulent agents who may claim they can subsidise the cost of the forms. Parents should, therefore, make payments only through the approved channels of both examination bodies and avoid individuals claiming to offer unofficial discounts or special affordable registration arrangements.

In addition, parents should monitor the registration deadlines and ensure their children complete the registration process early to avoid additional charges and other issues associated with late registration.

Conclusion

The introduction of a uniform WAEC and NECO registration fee is receiving mixed reactions among Nigerians, including parents and students. While some view it as financially stressful and capable of increasing the number of out-of-school children, others believe it is an important policy capable of reducing the undue charges imposed by some registration centres. While both arguments can be said to be valid at the moment, the long-term impact of the policy will become clearer over time.

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