Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu has urged the Federal Government to fund WAEC and NECO examinations instead of asking Nigerian students to pay the registration fees. She said every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of financial background.
Yesufu made the call after the Federal Government approved a ₦50,000 registration fee for candidates sitting the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations from 2027.
In a post on her verified X account, the activist said students should not face financial barriers before completing their secondary school education. She added that funding external examinations forms part of the government’s responsibility to provide quality education.
According to Yesufu, no Nigerian student should pay for WAEC or NECO examinations. Instead, she urged the Federal Government to cover the cost so children from low-income families would have equal access to the examinations.
Meanwhile, education advocates have also raised concerns about the planned fee. They warned that the increase could discourage some students from registering for the examinations.
As a result, they called on the government to review the policy and keep secondary education within the reach of every qualified student.
The Federal Government said the new fee will take effect in 2027. Officials explained that the decision followed the rising cost of conducting the examinations.
However, Yesufu maintained that quality education should never depend on a child’s financial background. She urged the Federal Government to ensure that every Nigerian student can sit for WAEC and NECO examinations without paying registration fees.
