Summary：**Sowore Promises Free Education, Vows to Abolish WAEC, NECO Fees** *Omoyele Sowore, the African Ac

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**Sowore Promises Free Education, Vows to Abolish WAEC, NECO Fees**

*Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential hopeful, unveiled a sweeping free‑education agenda on Tuesday, pledging to eliminate examination fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) ahead of the 2027 general elections.*

### Introduction
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Sowore framed the proposal as a direct response to the growing financial burden on Nigerian families. He argued that the current cost structure—where parents pay thousands of naira for registration, late fees, and result verification—excludes millions of children from secondary‑school completion. By removing these charges, the AAC candidate says the government can boost enrolment, reduce dropout rates, and align the nation’s schooling system with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) mandate.

### Key Developments
Sowore’s plan outlines three immediate actions:

1. **Fee Waiver** – All WAEC and NECO registration, examination, and certificate fees would be covered by federal allocations starting in the 2025/2026 academic year.
2. **Funding Mechanism** – The proposal suggests reallocating a portion of the annual education budget, currently estimated at ₦1.2 trillion, and introducing a modest levy on luxury goods to sustain the program.
3. **Quality Assurance** – Parallel to the fee removal, Sowore pledged to overhaul the examination bodies’ infrastructure, invest in digital testing platforms, and train examiners to curb malpractice and ensure credibility.

The announcement follows a series of town‑hall meetings across the Southwest and Southeast, where parents and teachers repeatedly cited examination costs as a barrier to continued learning.

### Industry Analysis
Education analysts note that eliminating WAEC and NECO fees could have a multiplier effect. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, household spending on education accounts for roughly 12 % of total consumption; a fee waiver could redirect those funds toward other essentials, stimulating local economies. However, critics warn that without a corresponding increase in school capacity—classrooms, teachers, and learning materials—the policy risks overwhelming existing facilities.

Comparative examples from Ghana and Kenya show that fee‑