The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the proposed uniform ₦50,000 examination fee for candidates sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations from 2027.
In a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the planned fee increase as harsh and economically insensitive, arguing that it would place an additional burden on millions of Nigerian families already battling high inflation, rising food prices, transportation costs, electricity tariffs and unemployment.
The former vice president warned that increasing examination fees could worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, noting that millions of children are already unable to access formal education. According to him, a government confronted with such a challenge should be expanding access to education rather than introducing policies that could make it more difficult for children from low-income families to complete their schooling.
Atiku said the proposed charges would disproportionately affect poor and middle-income households, warning that children denied access to education risk falling into unemployment, child labour, criminal exploitation, drug abuse and insecurity. He maintained that sustainable national development depends on making education more accessible rather than more expensive.
The ADC presidential candidate also pledged that an administration led by his party would reverse policies that place education beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians. He promised to expand access to quality education, increase the carrying capacity of tertiary institutions and recruit more qualified teachers to strengthen the country’s education sector.
Atiku expressed confidence that Nigerians would reject policies he believes undermine educational opportunities for young people, insisting that education should remain a public good accessible to every child regardless of economic background.
