Nigeria Exams: Obi Hails Suspension of WAEC, NECO Fee Hike

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Nigeria's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government's suspension of a planned increase in examination registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination.

The federal government announced the suspension on Monday, saying it would engage in extensive consultations with stakeholders before making a final decision. This decision comes after widespread public opposition to the proposed fee hike.

The proposed fee hike was necessitated by rising operational costs of conducting public examinations. However, Obi argued that the policy should never have been introduced in the first place given Nigeria's economic hardship.

'At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, access to education should be expanded, not restricted. Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue,' Obi said in a post on his X handle.

Obi also commended the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy. But he urged the government to reconsider other policies that he described as anti-people.

The federal government's decision to suspend the policy has been met with cheers from parents, citizens, and advocacy groups whose opposition helped to bring about the decision. The minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be suspended to allow for broader consultations.

And while the suspension of the policy is seen as a victory for the people, Obi argued that the policy should never have been introduced in the first place. 'This is a victory for the Nigerian people,' he said.

Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue.

Obi also applauded the opposition of parents, citizens, and advocacy groups whose efforts contributed to the suspension of the policy. He urged the government to reconsider other policies that he described as anti-people.

The full story of Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, is not just that of oil and corruption. It is also the story of how ordinary people have been struggling to make ends meet.

And it is in this context that the government's decision to suspend the policy is seen as a major victory for the people. 'True leadership is demonstrated by the willingness to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on citizens,' Obi said.

'Imposing multiple fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education. At that stage, the State has a duty to invest in educating and preparing its citizens for productive lives, not to erect financial barriers that keep them out of school.'

And this, Obi said, is why the government must reconsider other policies that he described as anti-people. The suspension of the policy is seen as a major victory for the people.

The opposition to the proposed fee hike was not limited to parents and citizens. Advocacy groups also played a crucial role in bringing about the suspension of the policy.

And while the suspension of the policy is seen as a victory for the people, Obi argued that the policy should never have been introduced in the first place. The opposition to the proposed fee hike was a major victory for the people.

The full story of Nigeria is not just that of oil and corruption. It is also the story of how ordinary people have been struggling to make ends meet.

Victory for Nigerians: Obi hails suspension of WAEC, NECO fee hike.

In the words of Obi: 'Imposing multiple fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education',