The Lagos State government has mandated public secondary school students registering for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to pay a compulsory N10,000 tax clearance fee.
This development, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, has sparked concerns and debates among parents and students across the state.
According to a parent of an SS3 student in one of the affected schools, the directive was issued to Senior Secondary 3 (SS3) students in government-owned schools, stating that WAEC registration fees had already been covered by the government. However, students must now pay for tax clearance to complete their registration.
“It is true because I paid 10k this morning to allow him for capturing,” the parent said. “We were told to collect the receipt in the office on Monday.”
The parent of one of the affected students shared the message from the school principal to all parents, “Parents are advised to pay their taxes and give the receipts to the students as data capture is slated for tomorrow 24th January 2025.”
“This is a message from the principal of the school principal,” he said.
Multiple students from other schools in the area also corroborated the claim, adding that the clearance must bear the student’s surname as used in the school records to qualify for the exemption.
Traditionally, WAEC registration in Lagos public schools has been free of charge. However, this new directive has raised eyebrows, with some parents questioning the fairness and legality of imposing such fees on students in public schools.
Meanwhile , the state ministry of education has yet to speak about the issue.
The fee imposition has generated mixed reactions among stakeholders, with many calling for the state government to reconsider its position to avoid placing an additional financial burden on families.
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