The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures aimed at eradicating examination malpractice in the 2026 examinations and subsequent years conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO). The initiative forms part of broader reforms to enhance credibility, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the announcement 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. The Ministers disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education is intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to protect the integrity of national examinations.
One of the major reforms is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation. Although all candidates will sit for the same examination, the order and arrangement of questions will vary for each candidate, ensuring that every student writes a unique version of the examination and significantly limiting opportunities for collusion.
The Ministry also reaffirmed its strict prohibition of candidate transfers at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level. This policy, earlier communicated through an official circular, will be strictly enforced to curb last-minute school changes often linked to examination malpractice.
To promote transparency and uniformity, the Federal Government has developed new national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines for immediate implementation. All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO, and NBAIS, are required to comply with standardized CA submission timelines: first-term assessments in January, second-term assessments in April, and third-term assessments in August. These deadlines are mandatory and designed to ensure consistency, data integrity, and timely processing nationwide.
Additionally, the Ministry is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. This identifier will facilitate effective tracking 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 carried out under strengthened supervision and close coordination with relevant examination bodies to ensure full compliance with approved guidelines and ethical standards.
They emphasized that these measures demonstrate the Federal Government’s determination to conduct examinations that are credible, fair, and aligned with global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s specific educational challenges.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated its commitment to working closely with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents, and candidates to ensure the effective implementation of these reforms and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country.
