Peter Obi Hails Fee Hike Suspension as Victory for Nigerians
Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, has welcomed the federal government's decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination. The fee hike, which would have raised the cost of each examination to N50,000, was met with widespread criticism from students, opposition figures, and civil society groups, prompting the government to reverse the policy.
Details of the Fee Hike and Public Outcry
Under the proposed increment, WAEC candidates would have seen their fees rise from the current N27,000 to N50,000, while NECO candidates would have faced an increase from N30,000 to N50,000. The announcement sparked immediate backlash, with many arguing that the hike would place an unbearable burden on families already struggling with economic hardship. The federal government ultimately suspended the policy after mounting public pressure.
Obi's Statement on X
Reacting to the development, Peter Obi took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to express his relief and commend the authorities for listening to the public outcry. He described the suspension as a victory for the Nigerian people. In his statement, Obi said: "I received the welcome news of the suspension of the newly introduced examination fees with relief. This is a victory for the Nigerian people." He emphasized that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at a time of great hardship, when the government should be investing in basic education and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
Obi Calls for Reversal of Other Anti-People Policies
Obi further argued that access to education should be expanded, not restricted, and that education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue. He warned that 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. Obi also called on the government to reconsider other anti-people policies, stating that true leadership is demonstrated by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people.
Impact and Reactions
The reversal of the fee hike has been widely praised by parents, students, and advocacy groups who mobilized against the policy. Obi specifically thanked these groups for their efforts in making the reversal possible. The development is seen as a significant win for civil society and a sign that public pressure can influence government decisions. However, Obi noted that many other policies remain that similarly burden Nigerians and require reconsideration.
