Post by Stephen Onuh Uwodi (@Enefuojo)

Education Should Never Become a Luxury: Tinubu's 82% WAEC/NECO Fee Hike Is a Direct Assault on Nigeria's Future

The reported decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's APC-led Federal Government to increase WAEC and NECO examination fees by 82 percent—from ₦27,500 to ₦50,000 beginning in 2027—raises profound concerns about access to education in Nigeria. If implemented without adequate support measures for low-income families, it risks placing one of the country's most important opportunities for social mobility beyond the reach of many young Nigerians.

At a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with high inflation, rising food prices, increasing transport costs and declining purchasing power, imposing such a steep increase in examination fees appears disconnected from the economic realities facing ordinary households. For countless parents already struggling to pay school fees, uniforms, textbooks and feeding costs, an additional ₦22,500 per child could determine whether a student completes secondary education or drops out.

Nigeria already has one of the largest populations of out-of-school children in the world. Rather than reducing barriers to education, policies that substantially increase the cost of completing secondary school risk deepening this crisis. Every child who is unable to register for WAEC or NECO because of financial hardship represents not just a personal tragedy but also a loss of human capital for the nation.

The consequences extend far beyond education. Young people denied educational opportunities are more vulnerable to unemployment, child labour, early marriage, exploitation and criminal recruitment. Education is one of the most effective long-term investments in national development because it strengthens the workforce, reduces poverty, promotes innovation and contributes to social stability. Making access to key examinations less affordable risks undermining these broader national goals.

This policy also raises important questions about government priorities. Around the world, many governments invest heavily in expanding educational access because they recognize that the long-term economic and social benefits outweigh the costs. In contrast, significantly increasing examination fees during a period of widespread economic hardship may be seen as shifting more of the financial burden onto families who are least able to bear it.

The impact is likely to be particularly severe in regions already facing educational challenges, including areas affected by poverty and insecurity. Students in these communities already confront significant obstacles to remaining in school. Additional financial barriers could further widen regional educational inequalities and make national efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children even more difficult.

A government committed to national development should focus on making education more accessible, not more expensive. If examination costs genuinely need to increase because of operational expenses, the government could instead consider targeted subsidies, scholarships, fee waivers for low-income families or other measures to ensure that no qualified student is denied the opportunity to sit for these critical examinations because of poverty.

Ultimately, a nation's future is shaped by the education it provides its young people. Policies that risk excluding students from completing their education deserve careful public scrutiny and thoughtful reconsideration. Rather than creating additional barriers, Nigeria needs policies that expand educational opportunity, strengthen human capital and give every child—regardless of family income—a fair chance to succeed.

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