RismadarVoice Reporters
September 9, 2026
Calls have intensified for President Bola Tinubu’s administration to review the proposed ₦4,000 verification fee introduced by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) for students using their O’Level results for tertiary institution admissions.
The fee, which is a one-time payment for candidates seeking verification of their examination results, has generated debate among stakeholders over its impact on students and families already facing economic challenges.
WAEC and NECO said the verification service was introduced to simplify the admission process and ensure that candidates who have successfully verified their results would not need to repeat the exercise in future applications.
However, critics have questioned the additional financial burden on students, arguing that candidates have already paid examination fees to obtain their results.
The debate follows reports that 1,959,668 candidates participated in the May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). At ₦4,000 per candidate, the proposed verification fee could generate billions of naira if all eligible candidates utilise the service.
Supporters of the policy maintain that digital verification systems require funding, while opponents argue that the cost should not be transferred directly to students seeking admission into higher institutions.
The controversy has also renewed discussions on the funding of examination bodies and education support systems in Nigeria.
Some stakeholders have pointed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as an example of how improved management and operational reforms can reduce costs while maintaining institutional efficiency.
The proposed verification fee comes after previous concerns over examination-related charges, including the earlier plan to increase secondary school certificate examination registration fees, which was suspended following public reactions.
Education advocates have urged the Federal Government to prioritise policies that improve access to education and reduce financial barriers for students.
They have also called for increased government investment in scholarships, bursaries and support programmes, noting that several African countries provide varying levels of assistance for students’ examination costs.
Meanwhile, proponents of the verification system say improving the security and authenticity of academic records remains important in preventing examination fraud and ensuring reliable admission processes.
The Federal Government has yet to announce any official decision regarding the proposed fee.
