Atiku Opposes Proposed ₦50,000 WAEC, NECO Examination Fees, Warns of Education Crisis

 

By News Beacon

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

The former vice president argued that such a policy, alongside recent increases in Federal Unity College fees, would place a heavier financial burden on millions of Nigerian families already struggling with the country's rising cost of living. He warned that the move could significantly reduce access to education, especially for students from low-income households.

In a statement issued on Sunday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said introducing higher examination costs at a time of widespread economic hardship would make education less accessible.

According to him, many Nigerian households are already dealing with soaring inflation, increasing food prices, high transportation costs, rising electricity tariffs, stagnant wages and unemployment. Adding higher education-related expenses, he argued, would worsen the financial pressure on parents and guardians.

Atiku maintained that governments committed to national development should remove obstacles preventing children from accessing quality education rather than creating additional financial barriers.

The ADC chieftain stressed that education remains one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty and promoting national development.

He argued that making education more expensive would increase inequality by preventing children from disadvantaged backgrounds from completing their academic journey.

According to him, every Nigerian child deserves access to education regardless of family income, adding that investment in education should remain a national priority, particularly during periods of economic difficulty.

Atiku linked the proposed examination fee to Nigeria's long-standing challenge of out-of-school children.

He noted that estimates place the number of Nigerian children and youths currently outside the classroom at between 10.5 million and 15 million, making Nigeria one of the countries with the highest number of out-of-school children globally.

He argued that policies increasing the cost of education could push even more children out of school instead of encouraging greater enrolment.

According to him, rather than introducing measures that may discourage school attendance, authorities should be implementing programmes that help more children return to classrooms.

The former vice president warned that the proposed ₦50,000 fee for WAEC and NECO examinations would affect poor and middle-income families the most.

He explained that many parents are already forced to prioritise essential needs such as food, healthcare and transportation because of the current economic climate.

For many households, he said, paying substantially higher examination fees could become an impossible task, forcing qualified students to abandon their academic ambitions despite meeting educational requirements.

He added that students unable to afford qualifying examinations may lose opportunities to continue into tertiary education.

Beyond examination fees, Atiku also pointed to the limited admission capacity of Nigerian universities.

According to him, more than two million candidates seek admission into higher institutions every year, while public universities can only admit between 500,000 and 700,000 applicants because of infrastructure limitations.

He argued that instead of expanding educational facilities and increasing admission capacity, introducing higher school charges and examination fees would further reduce access to education.

The combination of limited university spaces and higher educational costs, he said, amounts to a "double challenge" for Nigerian students seeking academic advancement.

The former vice president also questioned the government's emphasis on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a solution to educational access.

While acknowledging efforts to support university students through loans, he argued that financial assistance at tertiary level cannot solve problems affecting students who struggle to complete secondary education or cannot afford examination registration.

According to him, students who fail to write qualifying examinations because of financial constraints would never benefit from university loan programmes.

He therefore maintained that education reforms should begin at the foundational and secondary education levels, where affordability remains a significant concern.

Atiku urged the Federal Government to prioritise policies that expand educational opportunities rather than increase costs.

Among his recommendations were increased investment in public schools, recruitment of more qualified teachers, expansion of university infrastructure and improved funding for educational institutions across the country.

He also called for broader consultations involving government officials, education stakeholders, parents, examination bodies and civil society groups to develop sustainable approaches to financing public education.

According to him, meaningful reforms should ensure that no child is denied access to learning because of financial hardship.

The controversy comes amid wider public discussions on the affordability of education in Nigeria.

In recent months, concerns have continued to grow over increases in school-related expenses as many households battle the effects of inflation and a higher cost of living.

Although the Federal Government has introduced initiatives such as NELFUND to improve access to higher education, critics argue that many financial obstacles begin much earlier, particularly during secondary school when students must register for qualifying examinations before seeking university admission.

The reported proposal for a uniform ₦50,000 WAEC and NECO examination fee from 2027 has generated widespread reactions among parents, students and education stakeholders, with many calling on the relevant authorities to clarify the policy and its implementation.

Education remains central to Nigeria's economic and social development. Access to affordable schooling is widely regarded as essential for producing skilled workers, reducing poverty and improving national productivity.

Any policy that significantly increases the cost of education is likely to attract public attention because of its potential impact on millions of students preparing for national examinations.

The debate also highlights broader questions about balancing educational funding with affordability at a time when many Nigerians continue to face economic challenges.

Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu's administration to reconsider the reported plan to introduce a uniform ₦50,000 examination fee for WAEC and NECO candidates and to review recent increases affecting Federal Unity Colleges.

He argues that making education more expensive could widen inequality, increase the number of out-of-school children and reduce opportunities for academically qualified students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

As discussions continue, stakeholders are expected to seek greater clarity from the Federal Government and examination authorities regarding the proposed policy. The outcome of those consultations could shape the future of access to secondary and tertiary education for millions of Nigerian students.