Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has reacted to 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.
In a statement released on Monday, July 13, by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described Nigeria as not being a laboratory for "reckless policy." He expressed that while the suspension is welcome, it raises an uncomfortable question: why must the government always wait for public outrage before correcting policies that should never have been conceived in the first place?
Atiku Criticizes Policy Formulation Process
Atiku stated, "Governing is not a laboratory for reckless experimentation. Sound governments consult before they decide, not after Nigerians have been subjected to needless anxiety and uncertainty." He noted that it is becoming a disturbing pattern for the administration to announce harsh policies with little evidence of meaningful consultation, only to retreat when confronted by overwhelming public opposition. He emphasized that this reflects poor policy formulation rather than responsive governance.
The former vice president argued that the purpose of leadership is to anticipate the consequences of public policy before implementation. "A government that repeatedly relies on public resistance to discover its mistakes is admitting, whether intentionally or not, that it is disconnected from the daily realities of its citizens," he said.
Impact on Nigerian Families
Atiku highlighted that the proposed examination fee hike would have erected yet another financial barrier for millions of Nigerian children whose families are already crushed by inflation, rising transportation costs, soaring electricity tariffs, and declining purchasing power.
Recall that the federal government had approved a new examination fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations. Currently, WAEC candidates pay N27,000, while NECO candidates pay N30,000. The increment drew criticism from students and opposition figures, including Atiku, who warned that it would deepen Nigeria's out-of-school crisis.
Atiku's Earlier Warning
When the increment was initially announced, Atiku stated, "A government cannot credibly claim to be expanding access to higher education while simultaneously erecting financial barriers that prevent millions of young Nigerians from ever reaching the university gates." He called on President Tinubu to reverse the hike, which has now been suspended.
