Obi Aguocha to FG: Reverse Proposed N50,000 WAEC, NECO Fee Before It Destroys the Dreams of Nigerian Children
The Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has called on the Federal Government to reverse the reported plan to introduce a uniform examination fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting for WAEC and NECO examinations from 2027, describing the proposal as harsh and insensitive to the economic realities facing millions of Nigerian families.
In a statement reacting to the development, Aguocha argued that the proposed fee would place an unbearable financial burden on parents and guardians already grappling with rising inflation, unemployment, high transportation costs, increasing food prices, and declining purchasing power.
According to the lawmaker, education is a fundamental right that should remain accessible to every Nigerian child, regardless of their family’s financial status. He warned that making public examination fees unaffordable could deny thousands of students the opportunity to complete their secondary education and pursue higher academic aspirations.
Aguocha questioned the rationale behind fixing examination fees at N50,000 when the national minimum wage is N70,000, noting that many households struggle to meet their daily needs despite earning above the minimum wage.
“How does it make sense for a family to pay N50,000 for a single examination when the minimum wage is N70,000?” he asked, adding that even workers earning significantly more continue to battle the rising cost of food, rent, healthcare, transportation, and other essential expenses.
The federal lawmaker urged the government to carefully review any policy that affects access to education, warning that such decisions could further widen the gap between wealthy and low-income families. He maintained that policies should promote equal educational opportunities rather than create additional barriers for disadvantaged students.
Aguocha also cautioned that worsening economic hardship and limited educational opportunities could have broader social consequences. He noted that poverty, hopelessness, and youth unemployment remain major factors contributing to insecurity, corruption, kidnapping, and other criminal activities across the country.
He therefore appealed to the Federal Government and relevant education authorities to suspend the proposed examination fee and engage stakeholders in developing a more affordable and sustainable funding model for WAEC and NECO examinations.
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The lawmaker emphasized that investing in affordable education is essential for national development, insisting that no Nigerian child should lose the opportunity to write crucial secondary school examinations because of financial hardship.
