Atiku Abubakar Welcomes Suspension of WAEC, NECO Fee Hike

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, welcomed the suspension of the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). He criticized the administration led by President Bola Tinubu for introducing policies without adequate consultation, describing this pattern as poor policy formulation.

Atiku's statement, issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Frank Shaibu, highlighted the need for the government to engage stakeholders to develop sustainable funding models for WAEC and NECO. He emphasized that the proposed fee increase would have placed an additional financial burden on families already struggling with inflation and rising costs.

Atiku commended the efforts of parents, teachers, labor organizations, and student groups in opposing the fee hike. He urged the federal government to embrace evidence-based policymaking and to listen to the concerns of the Nigerian populace, particularly in light of the upcoming 2027 general elections.