FG INTRODUCES NEW MEASURES TO ELIMINATE WAEC, NECO EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE IN 2026
Abuja, Nigeria — January 6, 2026
The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations from 2026 and beyond. The initiative forms part of ongoing reforms to strengthen credibility, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system.
In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the disclosure was made by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, alongside the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed. They explained that the Federal Ministry of Education is intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations.
Among the key measures is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation mechanisms. Although all candidates will answer the same examination questions, the sequencing and arrangement will differ for each candidate. This approach ensures that every student writes a unique version of the examination, significantly reducing opportunities for collusion and cheating.
The Ministry also reaffirmed its strict policy prohibiting the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level. This directive, already communicated through an official circular, will be rigorously enforced to curb last-minute school changes that are often linked to examination malpractice.
To further promote transparency and accountability, the Federal Government has developed new national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines for immediate implementation. All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO, and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), are required to strictly adhere to standardized submission deadlines for each academic term. The submission windows are January for First Term CA, April for Second Term CA, and August for Third Term CA. These timelines are mandatory and designed to ensure consistency, data integrity, and timely processing of Continuous Assessment records nationwide.
In addition, the Ministry is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. This identifier will enable effective tracking of learners throughout the examination process, strengthen monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification, and data management.
The Ministers further assured stakeholders that examination administration will be conducted under strengthened supervision and closer coordination with relevant examination bodies to ensure strict compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards.
They emphasized that the new measures reflect the Federal Government’s determination to conduct examinations that are credible, fair, and aligned with global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s unique educational realities.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents, and candidates to ensure the successful implementation of these strategies and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country.
