JUST IN: Peter Obi hails suspension of WAEC, NECO fee hike as 'victory for the people'

Education, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), describing the move as “a victory for the Nigerian people.”

Obi’s reaction followed Monday’s announcement by the Federal Ministry of Education that the proposed fee review had been suspended pending wider consultations with stakeholders.

In a statement issued shortly after the announcement, the former Anambra State governor said he received the development with relief, commending the authorities for responding to widespread public concerns.

“I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people,” Obi said.

While applauding the Federal Government for reversing the decision, Obi argued that the proposed increase should not have been introduced in the first place, given the country’s current economic challenges.

“I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy. However, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate stressed that access to education should be expanded rather than restricted, especially at a time when many Nigerian families are grappling with rising living costs.

“At a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, access to education should be expanded, not restricted. Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue,” he stated.

Obi warned that increasing examination fees at the basic education level could prevent many children from accessing education.

According to him, the government has a responsibility to invest in education and prepare young Nigerians for productive lives instead of creating financial barriers.

“Imposing multiple fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education. At that stage, the State has a duty to invest in educating and preparing its citizens for productive lives, not to erect financial barriers that keep them out of school,” he added.

The former governor also said good leadership requires the willingness to review policies that impose hardship on citizens.

“True leadership is demonstrated not only by making decisions but also by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people. Many other anti-people policies deserve similar reconsideration,” Obi said.

He also thanked parents, citizens and advocacy groups whose public engagement, he said, contributed to the government’s decision to suspend the proposed fee increase.

“I thank the citizens, parents and advocacy groups whose voices made this reversal possible,” he said.