The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly opposed the Federal Ministry of Education’s approval of an upward review of registration fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), describing the move as insensitive and burdensome.
In a statement signed by its President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babtee Babatunde, NANS condemned the reported increase, alleging that registration fees for both examinations had been raised to N50,000 each, bringing the combined cost to N100,000, excluding additional charges imposed by schools.
The student body argued that the fee hike comes at a time when many Nigerian families are struggling with the effects of ongoing economic reforms, warning that the increase could deny children from low-income households access to education.
NANS also criticised the Ministry of Education for approving the policy without consulting the association, insisting that decisions affecting millions of students should involve the leadership of the country’s apex student body.
The association called on the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately reverse the decision and urged the government to prioritise policies that make education more affordable rather than adding financial pressure on students and their families.
NANS maintained that it would continue to advocate for the welfare and interests of Nigerian students nationwide.
