In a move that has sparked outrage and confusion, the Lagos State government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has imposed a controversial N10,500 tax clearance fee on Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3) students in state-owned schools who are registering for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE). SaharaReporters first broke the news on its official X handle, revealing that the fee is now a mandatory requirement for students wishing to take the critical examination.
The decision has stirred widespread reactions, with many questioning the timing and fairness of the imposition. According to sources close to the matter, the Lagos State government has issued a directive to all SS3 students in state-owned schools to pay the N10,500 fee before they can be registered for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination, a fee that has never been levied on students in previous years. While the state government asserts that it has already covered the costs of students’ WAEC registration, the tax clearance fee is being presented as a new, unavoidable charge.
SaharaReporters visited various state-run secondary schools, including Eletu Odibo Senior High School in Abule-Oja, Yaba, where students confirmed the new fee structure. Interviews with about six SS3 students, as well as others from surrounding schools, revealed a common understanding of the new regulation. While students expressed frustration, they explained that there is a way out for some—those who can present a tax clearance certificate from their parents bearing the same surname as the student. This exemption appears to have sparked further confusion, as many students question the fairness of such a requirement, particularly when parents are already struggling with the financial burden of education.
One student from Eletu Odibo Senior High told SaharaReporters, “It is true, but it’s all about the student’s surname. If a student can present a tax clearance certificate with the same surname—whether from the father, mother, or even uncle—they are exempted from paying this new fee.”
The new imposition has led to growing discontent among parents and students, who argue that the burden is unfair and ill-timed, especially given the economic difficulties many families are already facing. Some have raised concerns that this could be seen as an additional form of taxation, which disproportionately affects the
For many, the introduction of the N10,500 tax clearance fee signals a deepening financial strain within an already cash-strapped educational system. Critics have also pointed out that the government’s decision to tie WAEC registration to a tax clearance certificate may unfairly target students from lower-income households who may not be able to afford the required documentation.
This move has put Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration under scrutiny as it faces growing pressure to explain the rationale behind the decision. While the government insists that the fee is meant to ensure students meet certain tax obligations, many are questioning whether this is yet another instance of imposing financial burdens on an already overtaxed populace.
As the controversy continues to unfold, both students and parents are left grappling with the unexpected costs that now accompany what should have been a straightforward educational process. Whether the state government will reconsider or clarify the policy remains to be seen, but the N10,500 fee has certainly added fuel to the ongoing debate over the cost of education in Lagos State.
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