2027: Sowore Pledges to Scrap WAEC, NECO Fees, Promises Free Education from Nursery to University

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has pledged to abolish examination fees for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) if elected president in the 2027 general election.

Sowore unveiled the promise on Monday while presenting what he described as his administration’s education blueprint, outlining plans to provide free education from nursery school through university.

The former presidential candidate argued that access to education should never be determined by a family’s financial situation, insisting that every Nigerian child deserves equal opportunities to learn and succeed.

“Let’s use this opportunity to show you, at a glance, what our education policy will look like after 2027,” Sowore said.

He vowed that students would no longer be required to pay for public examinations under his proposed administration.

“No government under a #Sowore2027 administration will ask your child to pay WAEC, NECO, or any other public examination fee. Education will be free because knowledge is a right, not a privilege,” he stated.

Beyond scrapping examination fees, Sowore said his education policy would guarantee free, quality education from early childhood to tertiary institutions, supported by improved infrastructure and better welfare for teachers.

According to him, the plan includes modern classrooms, expanded virtual learning, well-paid teachers, student grants and equal educational opportunities for children across the country.

“Our revolutionary education policy guarantees free, high-quality education from early childhood through university, backed by modern classrooms, virtual learning, well-paid teachers, student grants, and equal opportunities for every Nigerian child.

“This is not a promise of politics. It is a revolutionary commitment to build a nation where no child’s future is determined by poverty. Read it. Share it. Debate it. Join the movement to make it a reality,” he added.

Sowore’s proposal comes shortly after the Federal Government suspended the recent increase in WAEC and NECO examination fees following widespread public backlash, placing the cost of education back at the centre of national political debate ahead of the 2027 elections.