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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Peter Obi hails suspension of WASSCE, NECO fee hike

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Peter Obi welcomed the Federal Government's suspension of proposed fee increases for the 2027 WASSCE and NECO SSCE exams.
  • He called the suspension a "victory for the Nigerian people" and argued the fees were an unnecessary burden during economic hardship.
  • Obi stressed that education should be accessible and a public good, not a source of government revenue, and urged the government to reverse other "anti-people policies."

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has lauded the Federal Government's decision to suspend the planned review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination. Obi described the government's move as a "victory for the Nigerian people."

I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people.

— Peter ObiCommenting on the Federal Government's suspension of proposed examination fee hikes.

The government announced on Monday that it was suspending the proposed fee review for the 2027 examinations, withdrawing its June 18, 2026 letter concerning the adjustment. The ministry cited rising operational costs as the reason for the proposal but stated the review was put on hold for broader stakeholder consultations and to align with the government's commitment to inclusive policymaking.

While I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

— Peter ObiExpressing his views on the suspended examination fee review.

Reacting via his X account, Obi expressed relief at the suspension following widespread public opposition. He argued that the proposed fee increase would have imposed an additional burden on families already facing economic hardship and could have further restricted access to education. "While I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria," he wrote.

Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue.

— Peter ObiStating his position on the accessibility of education.

Obi maintained that education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue. He cautioned that imposing additional fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education, asserting that the state has a duty to invest in its citizens' education rather than erecting financial barriers. He urged the government to demonstrate true leadership by reversing policies that impose hardship, suggesting that "many other anti-people policies deserve similar reconsideration."

True leadership is demonstrated not only by making decisions but also by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people. Many other anti-people policies deserve similar reconsideration.

— Peter ObiCommenting on the government's policy reversal and urging reconsideration of other policies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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