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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned why the government “must always wait for public outrage” before correcting policies, as he welcomed the suspension of the proposed increase in WAEC and NECO registration fees.
In a statement on Monday, Atiku described the reversal as a victory for Nigerian parents, students and civil society organisations but criticised what he called a disturbing pattern of policy formulation.
“Why must this government always wait for public outrage before correcting policies that should never have been conceived in the first place?” Atiku asked.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2027 presidential candidate said the question was central to understanding the administration’s approach to governance.
“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 said.
The Ministry of Education had earlier announced the suspension of the proposed N50,000 uniform registration fee for the 2027 WASSCE and NECO SSCE, following widespread public criticism of the planned adjustment.
Atiku said the pattern had become “disturbing” and accused the administration of announcing harsh policies with little evidence of meaningful consultation.
“It is becoming a disturbing pattern. This administration announces harsh policies with little evidence of meaningful consultation, only to retreat when confronted by overwhelming public opposition. That is not responsive governance; it reflects poor policy formulation,” he said.
He said the proposed examination fee hike would have erected yet another financial barrier for millions of Nigerian children whose families were already burdened by inflation, rising transportation costs, soaring electricity tariffs and declining purchasing power.
“The purpose of leadership is to anticipate the consequences of public policy before it is implemented. 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,” Atiku said.
He commended parents, teachers, labour organisations, student groups and education stakeholders whose collective voice compelled the reconsideration.
“Democracy works best when citizens hold their government accountable,” he said.
However, he urged the government to engage stakeholders in developing a sustainable funding model for WAEC and NECO that strengthens the examination bodies without transferring the burden to struggling families.
“More importantly, this administration must abandon its growing habit of announcing anti-people policies first and listening later. Consultation is not a sign of weakness; it is the foundation of responsible governance,” Atiku said.
The former vice president linked the policy reversal to the approaching 2027 election, urging Nigerians to choose between what he described as an administration driven by “trial and error” and “experienced leadership with a proven record in national governance.”
“A government that listens only after Nigerians cry out is a government that has stopped listening to the people it was elected to serve…” he stated.
“…The lesson from this latest policy reversal is simple: a nation as important as Nigeria cannot be governed like a laboratory for endless experimentation.”
