In a decisive move to restore credibility to the national assessment system, the Federal Government today announced a sweeping reform package targeting the complete elimination of malpractice during the 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, flanked by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed, detailed the stringent measures aimed at safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s critical secondary school examinations.
“These reforms underscore our unwavering resolve to conduct examinations that are credible, fair, and reflective of global best practices,” stated Dr. Alausa. He emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen transparency and public confidence in the educational system.
A new system of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation will be deployed. While the core questions remain the same, the sequence and arrangement will differ for each student, rendering collusion and mass cheating virtually impossible.
The statement also said government will rigorously enforce its existing ban on transferring students in Senior Secondary School Three (SS3). This policy targets the practice of moving candidates to “special centres” notorious for malpractice.
However, candidate will be assigned a unique tracking number. This identifier will allow for enhanced monitoring of students throughout the exam cycle and support long-term reforms in certification and data management.
The Ministers assured that exam administration will be under strengthened supervision, with the Federal Ministry of Education intensifying oversight and coordination with WAEC, NECO, and the National Board for Islamic Studies (NBAIS).
The Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, confirmed that the Ministry is committed to collaborating with state governments, school administrators, parents, and students to ensure the smooth implementation of these measures for the 2026 examinations and beyond.
