The Federal Government has unveiled new measures to combat examination malpractice in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams, starting in 2026. The reforms aim to restore credibility, improve transparency, and boost public confidence in Nigeria’s examination system.
The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed.
According to the officials, the reforms are designed to strengthen oversight, enhance accountability, and ensure fair conduct across all stages of national examinations.
A statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, highlighted that technology-driven solutions and stricter administrative controls would be implemented to safeguard the integrity of WAEC and NECO examinations.
Key Measures
One major initiative is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation. While all candidates will answer the same set of questions, the order and structure of the questions will vary for each student, ensuring that “every candidate writes a unique version of the exam” and reducing opportunities for collusion.
The Ministry also reiterated its stance on senior secondary school transfers, emphasizing strict enforcement of existing rules. Transfers at Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) are prohibited to prevent last-minute school changes often linked to examination malpractice.
To improve accountability, new national guidelines for Continuous Assessment (CA) have been developed and are effective immediately. All examination bodies are now required to submit assessment records according to fixed timelines: First Term CA in January, Second Term CA in April, and Third Term CA in August. The guidelines aim to ensure consistency, integrity, and timely processing of CA records nationwide.
Additionally, the Ministry plans to introduce a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all students. This system will enable efficient tracking of learners throughout the examination process, strengthen monitoring, and support long-term improvements in assessment, certification, and data management.
The Ministers assured stakeholders that the administration of examinations will be conducted under closer supervision and in partnership with relevant examination bodies to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
“These measures demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to conducting credible, fair, and globally aligned examinations while addressing Nigeria’s unique educational challenges,” the statement added.
The Ministry of Education emphasized its dedication to working closely with examination bodies, school authorities, state governments, parents, and students to ensure the smooth implementation of these reforms and the successful conduct of the 2026 examinations.
