Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government over the proposed ₦50,000 examination fee for candidates sitting the WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations from 2027.
Atiku described the planned increase as a policy that could deny millions of Nigerian children access to education, especially those from low-income families.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president also condemned the recent increase in fees charged by Federal Unity Colleges, describing both measures as insensitive to the country’s current economic realities.
According to Atiku, many Nigerian families are already struggling with rising inflation, high food prices, transportation costs, electricity tariffs and unemployment, making additional education costs difficult to bear.
“It is unconscionable that at a time when Nigerian families are battling record inflation… the Tinubu administration has chosen to make education even more expensive,” Atiku said.
He argued that education remains one of the most effective tools for reducing poverty and warned that increasing examination fees would only widen inequality and push more children out of school.
Atiku also expressed concern that Nigeria already has one of the world’s largest populations of out-of-school children, saying the government should focus on making education more affordable rather than introducing policies that could discourage enrolment.
“Education is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy; it is the birthright of every Nigerian child,” he stated.
The former vice president further argued that the proposed ₦50,000 examination fee could prevent many qualified students from gaining admission into tertiary institutions.
He also questioned the government’s reliance on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying student loans cannot solve affordability challenges faced by secondary school students who struggle to pay for qualifying examinations.
Atiku called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the increase in Unity School fees, suspend the proposed WAEC and NECO examination fee, and convene stakeholders to develop sustainable funding for public education.
He also urged the Federal Government to invest more in public schools, recruit additional teachers and expand the capacity of tertiary institutions to ensure no Nigerian child is denied education because of financial hardship.
His comments come amid growing public debate over the proposed increase in examination fees and the rising cost of education in Nigeria.
Source: Statement by Atiku Abubakar’s media office.
