The suspension of the proposed increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees has drawn similar reactions from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who both said public pressure forced the Federal Government to reverse the plan on Monday.
They insisted that the decision protected millions of families from extra financial burden and showed the importance of citizens speaking out on issues that affect them.
The suspension followed public criticism of the proposed fee increase for the two national examination bodies. The Federal Government in a statement on 18 June had announced an increase in registration fee from N27,500 to N50,000.
The plan prompted opposing views and reactions from people, as many believe that the increase in fee would make secondary school examinations harder to afford at a period when many families are struggling with high living costs.
Both Atiku and Obi linked the issue to the country’s education challenge, particularly the large number of out-of-school children. They maintained that increasing examination costs would have placed another obstacle before students from poor homes and reduced access to education.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Atiku welcomed the suspension and called it “a victory for millions of Nigerian parents, students, civil society organisations, and all citizens who refused to remain silent in the face of an unjust policy.”
He said the decision supported his earlier warning that higher examination fees would deepen educational inequality and deny many talented children the opportunity to continue their education.
Atiku questioned why the government often changed course only after strong public criticism. He argued that public policies should be carefully examined before they are announced and urged the Federal Government to consult people before taking decisions that affect their daily lives.
He also thanked parents, teachers, labour unions, student groups and education stakeholders whose protests contributed to the reversal.
Atiku urged the government to work with stakeholders on a funding system for WAEC and NECO that would strengthen both examination bodies without placing extra costs on families already facing inflation, high transport fares, increased electricity tariffs and weak purchasing power.
He also linked the issue to the 2027 general election, telling Nigerians that they would have the opportunity to choose leaders whose policies are based on consultation rather than trial and error.
Peter Obi also welcomed the suspension in a post on X, calling it “a victory for the Nigerian people.”
He praised the authorities for listening to public complaints but argued that the proposed fee increase should not have been introduced while many households are struggling to meet basic needs.
Obi said education should be treated as a public good rather than a source of government income. He warned that imposing extra costs at the basic education level could prevent many children from sitting examinations and continuing their education.
He stressed that government has a responsibility to invest in education instead of creating financial barriers for children.
Obi also said leadership involves the willingness to reverse policies that place unnecessary hardship on citizens. He urged the government to review other policies that have created similar hardship.
He thanked citizens, parents and advocacy groups whose campaign against the proposed fee increase contributed to the government’s decision to suspend the plan.
Atiku and Obi both presented the suspension as proof that public participation can influence government decisions. Their reactions also focused attention on the affordability of education and the need for policies that protect access to learning for children from low-income families.