Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
In a statement posted on his official page on July 13, 2026, Atiku described the suspension as a victory for ordinary Nigerians and said the decision came after strong opposition from parents, students, civil society groups and other stakeholders.
The former vice president said the proposed increase would have placed an additional financial burden on families already struggling with rising living costs and could have reduced access to education for many children.
“I welcome the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees. This reversal is a victory for the Nigerian people,” Atiku said.
He added that the government’s decision confirmed the concerns he had earlier raised about the impact of the planned fee increase on poor and vulnerable families.
“This decision vindicates the concerns I expressed when I warned that pricing public examinations beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians would deepen educational inequality, worsen the out-of-school children crisis, and deny countless brilliant but indigent students the opportunity to pursue higher education,” he said.
Atiku, however, questioned why the government waited until there was widespread public criticism before changing its position.
“However, the question remains: why must this government always wait for public outrage before correcting policies that should never have been conceived in the first place?” he asked.
The former vice president urged the Federal Government to adopt a more consultative approach when introducing policies that affect citizens, especially in sensitive sectors such as education.
He said broader engagement with stakeholders before announcing major decisions would help government avoid policies that could create hardship or public anger.
Atiku also called for a sustainable funding model for WAEC and NECO that would not transfer the financial burden to parents and students.
According to him, the government should work with education authorities, parents’ associations, teachers, examination bodies and other stakeholders to find long-term solutions that protect access to education while ensuring the examination bodies remain financially stable.
The Federal Government’s decision to suspend the planned fee increase followed growing public concern over reports that candidates would have to pay significantly higher amounts to register for the examinations.
The proposal had generated criticism from education groups, parents and labour organisations, many of whom argued that millions of families were already struggling with inflation, rising school costs and transportation expenses.
WAEC and NECO are the two main examination bodies used by Nigerian secondary school students seeking admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Every year, millions of candidates sit for the examinations across the country.
Because of the importance of the examinations, any increase in registration fees often attracts strong public attention. Education advocates have repeatedly warned that higher fees could force some students from low-income homes to postpone or even abandon their education plans.
Nigeria already faces a major challenge with out-of-school children. Various government and international reports have shown that millions of school-age children remain outside the classroom, particularly in poor and conflict-affected communities. Stakeholders have therefore argued that policies that make education more expensive should be carefully reviewed.
Atiku’s comments add to the growing debate over how educational services should be funded in a period of economic difficulty.
Since leaving office as vice president, Atiku has frequently commented on government policies relating to the economy, education and social welfare. As the ADC’s presidential candidate, he has also been positioning himself as a critic of policies that he believes place additional pressure on ordinary Nigerians.
Parents and education groups who opposed the proposed fee increase had argued that many families already spend large amounts on school fees, books, uniforms and transportation, and that additional examination costs could make secondary education even less affordable.
Some civil society organisations also warned that higher examination fees could increase the number of students who drop out of school or delay writing the examinations needed for admission into higher institutions.
Although the Federal Government has suspended the planned increase, officials have not yet announced whether a new funding arrangement will be introduced for WAEC and NECO or whether consultations will be held with stakeholders as demanded by education groups.
For now, the suspension has been welcomed by many parents and students who feared that the proposed increase would make the examinations harder to afford.
Atiku said the development should serve as a reminder that policies affecting education and social welfare require careful consultation before implementation.
He urged the government to place the interests of students and families at the centre of future decisions and to ensure that no child is denied educational opportunities because of financial hardship.