By Aishatu Kabu
So this week, we woke up to another disturbing news: WAEC examination fees increased by almost 100%. While government may call it “just an adjustment,” it makes common Nigerians like me ask: why do our leaders always fail on their own side of the bargain?
Must the Nigerian political class keep reaffirming that they are not sincere, accountable, or transparent?
This announcement, added to many promises made and broken, feels like the most insensitive of all. And here is why.
On May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made three words that changed the everyday reality of Nigerians.
Not for good. Not for better. But for worse.
The words?
“Subsidy is gone.”
Three words. And overnight, the price of surviving in Nigeria doubled.
He said “We don’t have the money.” He promised the savings would go to education, health, infrastructure, and directly to the people.
Two years later, Nigerians are asking: if there’s more money now, why does life feel harder?
Here are some of the betrayals:
First Betrayal: “No Money”
We were told the country was broke and couldn’t sustain subsidy. But in the same period, news broke of a new presidential jet. You cannot tell a hungry man to “sacrifice” while you upgrade your comfort. That’s not reform. That’s betrayal. That’s trust broken.
Second Betrayal: Education Promises vs Parent’s Reality
We were told savings would go to schools. Yet in many schools across Nigeria, parents are now being asked to pay ₦50,000 and above for WAEC registration. The official WAEC fee for 2026 is ₦27,000, but with admin charges it has almost doubled for many families. So parents who are already paying more for transport and food because of subsidy removal are now told to pay double for their children to write exams. Where is the logic?
Third Betrayal: More Money To States & LGAs
Government keeps saying: “Since subsidy was removed, states and LGAs are getting more allocation.” Yes, FAAC numbers are bigger. But how is that felt by the common man on the street? Why take from the poor and dash it to governors?
We removed subsidy, increased allocation, but in villages and wards people still fetch water, still trek to farm, still pay ₦600 for transport. The money is “there” but Nigerians are not feeling it. This is why I’ve said before in “Local Government Autonomy: The Missing Weapon to Fight Insurgency” until LGAs are free, development will never reach the grassroots.
Let me be clear: I am not against reforms. In fact, when you declared “subsidy is gone,” I celebrated. Why? Because you promised those resources would go to education, health, infrastructure, and things that would improve quality of life for every Nigerian across all class
Instead, we got hardship, hunger, increased poverty, and insecurity. That is why it is betrayal. You did not keep your promise, Mr. President.
If subsidy must go, here is the least I expected:
1. Fix refineries so fuel can be cheaper.
2. Give LGAs real autonomy so allocation reaches the people. You will say your government does that, but we all know the average local government in Nigeria does not have the autonomy to decide what to do with their resources, when and how. Until this is fixed local government remains not autonomous.
3. Fix insecurity, Secure farms so food prices can fall.
4. Show us the hospitals, schools, and CNG buses you promised.
A painful decision must come with a worthy result. Otherwise, these reforms are just extortion by the same government we entrusted with our resources.
President Tinubu, Nigerians sacrificed. We endured. We are still sacrificing. Don’t let that sacrifice be wasted on politics while your government fails on its own side of the contract.
Aishatu Kabu writes from Maiduguri, Borno State
