The Federal Government has announced a sweeping set of reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations from 2026 onward. The measures are part of broader efforts to strengthen credibility, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed. They disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education is intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations.
Key among the reforms is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation. Although candidates will answer the same examination questions, the sequence and arrangement will vary for each candidate, ensuring that every student writes a unique version of the examination and significantly reducing opportunities for collusion.
The Ministry also reiterated its strict policy banning the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level. This directive, already issued through an official circular, will now be rigorously enforced to curb last-minute school changes often linked to examination malpractice.
In a bid to promote transparency and uniformity, new national guidelines for Continuous Assessment (CA) have been approved for immediate implementation. All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO, and NBAIS, are required to adhere strictly to standardized CA submission timelines: January for first term, April for second term, and August for third term. The Ministry said the timelines are mandatory and designed to ensure data integrity and timely processing nationwide.
Additionally, the Federal Government is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. The identifier will enhance tracking throughout the examination process, improve accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification, and data management.
The ministers assured stakeholders that examinations will be conducted under strengthened supervision and closer coordination with examination bodies to ensure strict compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards. They stressed that the reforms reflect the government’s commitment to conducting credible and fair examinations in line with global best practices.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its resolve to work closely with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents, and candidates to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country.
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