An independent Nigerian think tank, the Read To Live Initiative, has urged the Federal Ministry of Education to disclose the cost justification behind its proposed 82% increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees, which would raise the fee to N50,000. The ministry initially approved the increase in June 2026 but suspended it in July 2026 amid public backlash, pending further consultations. The think tank argues that the fee hike, affecting 2.24 million UTME candidates, should be backed by transparent evidence before being implemented. They question why cost analyses, including documents from a March 2026 meeting, were not made public alongside the initial proposal. The group emphasizes that such a significant policy change requires a publicly accessible evidence base, not retrospective justifications.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a demand for transparency and accountability from the government, aligning with progressive values. The emphasis on publishing cost evidence before implementing a controversial fee increase suggests a critique of opaque governance. While the article presents the think





