Atiku Rejects Proposed ₦50,000 WAEC, NECO Examination Fee

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government over the reported plan to introduce a uniform ₦50,000 examination fee for candidates sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations from 2027.

In a statement released on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the proposed fee, alongside the recent increase in Federal Unity Colleges' charges, as an additional burden on Nigerian families already struggling with inflation, rising food prices, transport costs, electricity tariffs, and unemployment.

According to him, making education more expensive at a time of economic hardship would deny millions of children access to learning and worsen the country's already high number of out-of-school children.

He argued that education remains one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty and said governments should remove financial barriers rather than create new ones.

Atiku also warned that the proposed examination fee would disproportionately affect students from low-income families, limiting their chances of qualifying for tertiary education despite having the required academic ability.

He further noted that Nigeria's universities already face limited admission capacity, with only a fraction of the more than two million annual applicants gaining admission due to inadequate infrastructure.

The former vice president questioned the government's reliance on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying student loans cannot address the challenges faced by students who are unable to complete secondary education or afford qualifying examinations.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the increase in Unity School fees, suspend the proposed ₦50,000 WAEC and NECO examination fee, and convene stakeholders to develop sustainable funding for public education.

Atiku also urged the Federal Government to increase investment in public schools, recruit more teachers, expand tertiary education infrastructure, and ensure that no Nigerian child is denied access to education because of financial hardship.

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