Atiku Blasts Tinubu Over Proposed ₦50,000 WAEC, NECO Exam Fee, Warns Millions of Nigerian Students Could Be Locked Out of School

Atiku Blasts Tinubu Over Proposed ₦50,000 WAEC, NECO Exam Fee, Warns Millions of Nigerian Students Could Be Locked Out of School

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised the Federal Government over the reported plan to introduce a uniform ₦50,000 examination fee for WAEC and NECO candidates from 2027, warning that the policy could push millions of Nigerian children further away from education.

In a statement released on Sunday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate described the proposed examination fee and the recent increase in Federal Unity College fees as anti-poor policies that threaten equal access to education.

Atiku: Nigerians Are Already Struggling

According to Atiku, the proposed increase comes at a time when millions of Nigerian families are battling severe economic hardship caused by rising inflation, soaring food prices, higher transportation costs, increased electricity tariffs, stagnant incomes, and widespread unemployment.

"It is unconscionable that at a time when Nigerian families are battling record inflation and economic hardship, the government has chosen to make education even more expensive," he said.

He argued that education remains the most powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and should never become a privilege reserved for wealthy families.

₦50,000 WAEC and NECO Fee Could Increase Out-of-School Children

The former Vice President warned that Nigeria already has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world, with estimates ranging between 10.5 million and 15 million children.

According to him, rather than reducing financial barriers, the government should be investing heavily in making education accessible.

He cautioned that introducing a ₦50,000 examination fee for WAEC and NECO would force many parents to choose between feeding their families and paying for their children's education.

Poor Students May Lose Access to University Education

Atiku further stated that the proposed examination fee would become another obstacle preventing academically qualified students from pursuing higher education.

He noted that many brilliant students from low-income homes may never reach university because they would be unable to afford the qualifying examinations required for admission.

He also pointed out that Nigeria's public universities already face limited admission capacity, with more than two million candidates seeking admission annually while only about 500,000 to 700,000 students secure placements.

According to him, increasing school-related costs without expanding educational infrastructure amounts to a "double punishment" for Nigerian students.

Questions Over NELFUND

While acknowledging the Federal Government's Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Atiku argued that student loans cannot solve problems that begin long before university admission.

He stressed that loans offer little benefit to students who are unable to complete secondary school or afford WAEC and NECO examinations in the first place.

"A government cannot claim to be expanding access to higher education while simultaneously creating financial barriers that stop students from reaching university," he said.

Atiku Calls for Immediate Reversal

The former Vice President urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration to immediately reverse the increase in Unity School fees and suspend the proposed ₦50,000 WAEC and NECO examination fee.

He also called on the Federal Government to:

- Increase funding for public education.

- Recruit more qualified teachers.

- Expand university infrastructure and admission capacity.

- Hold consultations with education stakeholders on sustainable education financing.

- Ensure no Nigerian child is denied education because of poverty.

Growing Public Concern

The reported plan to introduce a uniform ₦50,000 examination fee from 2027 has generated widespread debate across Nigeria, with parents, education stakeholders and civil society groups calling on the government to clarify the proposal.

Many observers argue that while initiatives like NELFUND aim to improve access to tertiary education, affordability challenges begin much earlier at the secondary school level, where students must first complete WAEC and NECO examinations before qualifying for university admission.

As discussions continue, Nigerians are closely watching for an official response from the Federal Government regarding the proposed examination fee.

>>> What are your thoughts? Should the Federal Government introduce a ₦50,000 WAEC and NECO examination fee, or should education be made more affordable for every Nigerian child? Share your opinion in the comments and don't forget to share this article with others.

Atiku Abubakar, WAEC fee 2027, NECO examination fee, ₦50,000 WAEC fee, Tinubu education policy, Unity School fees, Nigerian education news, NELFUND, WAEC latest news, NECO latest updates.