Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), describing the move as a victory for ordinary Nigerians.
The Federal Government had earlier announced the suspension of the proposed fee adjustment and withdrew its June 18, 2026 circular on the matter, saying it would engage stakeholders before taking any final decision. The Ministry of Education explained that the planned review was prompted by rising operational costs but was halted following widespread public criticism.
Reacting in a statement shared on his X account, Obi described the reversal as a welcome relief for millions of Nigerian families already struggling with economic hardship.
He said the government’s decision demonstrated that public engagement remains a powerful tool in shaping policies and showed that authorities could reconsider decisions when citizens raise genuine concerns.
“I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people,” Obi stated.
While commending the government for responding to public opinion, the former Anambra State governor argued that the proposed fee increase should never have been introduced given the country’s prevailing economic conditions.
According to him, imposing additional costs on students and their families at a time of widespread hardship would have further limited access to education and undermined efforts to reduce the country’s large population of out-of-school children.
Obi stressed that education should be treated as a public investment rather than a source of government revenue, insisting that the state has a responsibility to make learning more accessible rather than creating financial obstacles for families.
He also called on the government to review other policies that have increased the financial burden on Nigerians, noting that effective leadership includes the willingness to reverse policies that negatively affect citizens.
The former presidential candidate concluded by commending parents, civil society organisations, advocacy groups and other Nigerians whose collective opposition to the proposed fee increase contributed to the government’s decision to suspend the policy.