By Zainab Bakare
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government over its handling of the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations, describing the policy as poorly conceived.
Reacting to the government’s decision to suspend the planned fee hike, Atiku says the reversal was a welcome development but argued that the proposal should never have been introduced without extensive consultations with key stakeholders. He said the episode reflected what he described as a pattern of “trial-and-error governance” and weak policy formulation.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president warns that the proposed increase would have imposed an additional financial burden on millions of Nigerian families already grappling with inflation, rising transportation costs, higher electricity tariffs and declining purchasing power.
Atiku maintains that access to education should not be compromised by policies that place extra pressure on parents, urging the government to prioritise affordable education for every Nigerian child.
He also commended parents, teachers, organised labour, student groups and civil society organisations whose opposition, he said, compelled the government to suspend the proposed increase. He called on the Federal Government to develop a sustainable funding model for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) without transferring the financial burden to families.
The former vice president further urged the government to embrace evidence-based policymaking anchored on dialogue, consultation and public participation, insisting that major national policies should be shaped by stakeholder engagement rather than reversed after widespread public backlash.
The Federal Government had earlier suspended the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations following public criticism. The Ministry of Education said fresh consultations with examination bodies, state governments, school owners, parents and organised labour would be conducted before any final decision is taken.
