The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the Federal Ministry of Education’s approval of an upward review of registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), describing the decision as insensitive and a further burden on struggling Nigerian families.
In a press statement issued on Saturday and signed by the NANS President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the student body condemned the decision, alleging that the new fees would raise the cost of registering for both examinations to about ₦100,000, excluding additional charges imposed by schools.
According to NANS, increasing examination fees at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with the effects of economic reforms would make access to education more difficult for students from low-income families.
The association described the approval as “cruelty in its purest form,” arguing that government policies should focus on easing the financial burden on citizens rather than introducing additional costs.
“It is deeply painful that the registration fees for both WAEC and NECO have now been increased to ₦50,000 each, bringing the total to ₦100,000 even before schools add their own charges. Are we now saying that children of the poor should no longer have access to education?” the statement read.
NANS further accused the Federal Ministry of Education of approving the fee review without consulting the leadership of Nigerian students, insisting that decisions affecting millions of candidates should not be taken unilaterally.
The association maintained that the ministry failed to engage the apex students’ body before approving the proposed increase, stressing that “anything for us, without us, is against us.”
It also criticised the examination bodies for proposing the increase in the first place, saying the move lacked consideration for the prevailing economic realities facing students and their parents.
The student body called on the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately reverse the decision in the interest of Nigerian students and the nation.
It also urged the ministry to ensure that the leadership of Nigerian students is consulted on future policies that directly affect them.
NANS reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the welfare of students across the country, saying it would continue to defend their interests and oppose policies that could limit access to education.(Kwararafa times media)
