Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination.
The Federal Government announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 circular introducing the fee adjustment, explaining that the decision followed widespread public feedback and the need for broader consultations with stakeholders. The Ministry of Education had earlier attributed the proposed increase to rising operational costs.
Reacting in a statement shared on his X account, Obi described the suspension as a positive outcome for Nigerians, particularly families grappling with the country’s economic challenges.
“I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people,” he said.
While commending the government for responding to public concerns, Obi maintained that the proposed fee increase should not have been introduced in the first place, arguing that it would have placed an additional financial burden on households already facing economic hardship.
According to him, this is a period when government should be expanding access to education and addressing the country’s growing number of out-of-school children rather than introducing measures that could make education less affordable.
Obi stressed that education should be regarded as a public investment and a fundamental right, not a means of generating government revenue.
He warned that increasing costs associated with basic education could discourage enrollment and deny many children access to learning opportunities.
“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 stated.
The former Anambra State governor also urged the government to review other policies that have increased the financial burden on Nigerians, saying effective leadership requires the willingness to reverse decisions that negatively affect citizens.
He concluded by commending parents, civil society organisations, advocacy groups, and other Nigerians whose opposition to the proposed fee increase contributed to the government’s decision to suspend the policy.
