Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, and the National Examinations Council, NECO, examinations, describing the move as “a victory for the Nigerian people.”
Obi said the government’s decision to halt the proposed fee increase reflected the power of public engagement and responsiveness to citizens’ concerns, noting that the reversal followed widespread opposition from parents, education stakeholders and advocacy groups.
In a statement on Monday, Obi commended the authorities for listening to the voices of Nigerians but argued that the proposed fee review should not have been introduced in the first place, considering the prevailing economic hardship facing millions of families across the country.
According to him, many households are already struggling to meet their basic needs, making any additional financial burden on education both unnecessary and counterproductive.
He stressed that education remains a fundamental right and a public good that should be made more accessible, rather than being treated as a source of government revenue.
The former Anambra State governor warned that imposing additional charges at the basic education level could deny many children access to schooling, thereby worsening Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.
He maintained that government has a responsibility to invest in educating young Nigerians and preparing them for productive lives instead of creating financial barriers that could exclude vulnerable children from the education system.
Obi further stated that responsible leadership is not only about making policy decisions but also about demonstrating the humility to reverse measures that impose undue hardship on citizens. He urged the government to extend similar reviews to other policies that have increased the burden on Nigerians.
He also expressed appreciation to citizens, parents and advocacy groups whose sustained advocacy, he said, contributed to the suspension of the proposed examination fee review, reiterating his belief that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
