By Isa Abdul, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Education has approved the National Examinations Council, NECO and the West African Examinations Council’s, WAEC, request to increase registration fee for their Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, SSCE, to N50,000 per candidate, from the 2027/2028 academic session.

But the increment has drawn the ire of National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and former vice president and presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC, who described it as further punishment on already struggling parents and guardians.

The examinations are conducted for internal candidates who are finishing their Senior Secondary School education. WAEC just finished this year’s exam few weeks ago, while NECO’s ongoing.

The increase would see NECO SSCE internal examination fees jumping from N30,000 per candidate to N50,000 while waec moves from N27,000 N50,000.

A memo approving the new rate, dated June 18, 2026, was signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

The memo, directed to the Registrar, NECO, read: “Re: Upward review of registration fees for examinations conducted by NECO

‘’The West African Examinations Council has requested an upward review of examination fees for Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates with effect from 2027.

“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fee was discussed, the Minister of Education directed that the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE.

“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only, as the new examination fee for candidates with effect from NECO SSCE internal 2027.

‘’You are to bring the content of this letter to all stakeholders. Please accept the Minister’s warm regards.”

Meanwhile, there are indications that the development would further increase the debts owed the examination bodies by some state governments paying the exam fees of candidates,

Also, some parents are expressing the fear that many candidates might not be able to register for the exams in states where the government is not paying the fees.

In Lagos State for instance, the state government pays the fee for candidates writing WAEC SSCE and parents who can afford it, pay that of NECO for their children.

Reacting to the increment yesterday, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, described the increase as too high.

Speaking, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of NAPTAN, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, said the increase ought not to be that steep, bearing in mind all other expenses parents bear on their children.

“The increase is too high for our liking and acceptance. If the examination bodies are seeking increase, citing cost of living, I think it should be a bit progressive, may be at most 25 per cent. But what they are asking for now is surely over 75 per cent. That is on the high side.

“Apart from paying examination fees and others, parents have a lot of responsibilities on their children. There are other obligations to meet. The new rate will be a burden on parents and that is why we want them to have a rethink.

‘’Okay, what will now be the benefit if a child gets to SSS 3 class and is unable to register for the final examination on account of high registration fee. Let them please bring the rate down,’’ he pleaded.

Let parents reject or accept — NUT
When contacted on phone, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Audu Titus Amba, noted that the issue was left for parents to reject or accept.

“NUT is for teachers and as a leader of the union, the welfare and issue concerning teachers are our focus. The issue of registration fee is left to parents to reject or accept,” he stated.

He promised to address a press conference on Monday to talk about issues relating to teachers and the education sector.

–Reject Non-career Appointments
–Frown at sidelining registrars in critical decisions
–Appeal for TETfund sponsorship for training

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

Due to the delay in playing non-academic staff their 35 percent salary increment arrears, the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) has called on the Federal Government to immediately do so.

ARNU added that the agreement reached with the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) must be fully honoured.

This formed part of the recommendations reached at the end of ARNU’s 4th Annual Workshop and 79th Business Meeting, held from July 6 to 10 at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Auditorium in Abuja, where federal, state and private universities registrars deliberated on the future of university administration in the era of technological transformation.

The association said in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and read by the Registrar, Bingham University and Chairman of Communique Committee, Daburi Bello Misal that:

“ARNU noted the signing of agreement between Federal Government and SSANU and urged the Government to ensure the implementation of the outstanding arrears arising from the 35% salary increment approved for non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities with effect from 1st January 2026.”

The increasing anomaly in running universities and the appointment of non-career administrators as university registrars as well as irregular offices being created within the Nigerian University System caught their attention. The communiqué said:

“The National Universities Commission (NUC), in collaboration with other relevant regulatory bodies, should harmonize professional cadres and nomenclature across Nigerian Universities to eliminate irregular and unauthorized offices created outside the approved career structure,” adding that “ARNU should collaborate with other relevant stakeholders to discourage the appointment of non-career administrators as Registrars.”

The association frowned on the proliferation of unofficial titles such as Personal Assistants, First Ladies and Special Assistants in universities, describing them as inconsistent with established career structures and global best practices.

It also insisted that academic staff should no longer be appointed to head non-academic directorates, including Academic Planning, ICT, Sports, Works and Physical Planning, in order to preserve the integrity of the professional administrative cadre.

The communique further canvassed for improved welfare for retiring registrars and bursars, urging government and university authorities to establish an enhanced post-retirement welfare framework, including sustainable retirement benefits and life salaries comparable to those enjoyed by retired professors.

ARNU equally urged the Federal Government to address the persistent underfunding of federal universities, while calling on institutions to fully digitise registry operations through integrated human resource systems and domesticate data protection policies in line with the Nigerian Data Protection Act.

The communiqué, in addition, reaffirmed that the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar remain the administrative backbone of every university, stressing that institutional excellence depends on “disciplined implementation, effective leadership, accountability, professionalism and continuous capacity development” were critical achieving policies in the system.

ARNU expressed concern over the growing exclusion of registrars from carrying out their statutory responsibilities, particularly in the selection of principal officers in some universities. The association warned that sidelining chief administrative officers in critical governance processes weakens institutional administration and undermines established university governance structures.

They therefore called for stronger collaboration between vice-chancellors and registrars, urging principal officers to hold regular consultative meetings ahead of Governing Council and Senate sessions.

According to the communiqué, such engagements would enhance coordination, improve decision-making and enable universities to proactively manage institutional risks.

The association underscored the need for continuous training and retraining of registrars and other administrative officers. Regular professional development, they added, are essential to improving service delivery, strengthening quality assurance and promoting effective governance across Nigerian universities.

The communique further appealed to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to assume responsibility for sponsoring ARNU’s foreign educational tours to expose members to global best practices in university administration.

ARNU, finally, restated its commitment to professionalism, integrity, accountability and excellence in university administration. It also pledged to sustain engagement with government, the National Universities Commission and other stakeholders in advancing reforms that would strengthen governance, improve administrative leadership and position Nigerian universities for sustainable growth in an increasingly technology-driven higher education landscape.

–Directs FME,NUC etc to implement conversion

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, has Converted Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, to Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, Nasarawa.
Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesman, said the development is in line with President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening technical education, developing human capital, and unlocking Nigeria’s vast solid minerals potential.

“The approval followed a proposal by Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, who made a case for the establishment of a specialised institution to harness Nasarawa State’s comparative advantage in the solid minerals sector and support Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.”

The statement explained that the specialised university will provide world-class education, research, and innovation in mining, engineering, mineral processing, metallurgy, manufacturing, and emerging technologies, while producing the skilled workforce required to drive value addition:

“The approval reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to aligning Nigeria’s tertiary education system with national development priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda by establishing specialised institutions that address the country’s economic needs and leverage its competitive advantages.”

It added that the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other relevant agencies to commence the processes necessary to implement the conversion in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

President Tinubu added that his administration will continue to invest in education as a strategic driver of economic growth, innovation, job creation, and national prosperity.