From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations starting with the 2026 cycle.
The new reforms, designed to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system, were announced on Monday, January 5, 2026, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, the government detailed several high-tech and administrative strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations.
A major highlight is the introduction of advanced question randomization.
Under this system, all candidates will answer the same questions, but the sequencing and structure will vary for every individual.
This ensures that each student sits for a unique version of the paper, making collusion in examination halls virtually impossible.
Furthermore, the Ministry is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates.
This permanent identifier will allow the government to track a learner’s academic journey and prevent the “impersonation” that often plagues national exams.
The Federal Government has also restated its strict ban on the transfer of students at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level.
This directive will now be rigorously enforced to prevent the emergence of “miracle centers” and last-minute school changes often linked to organized cheating.
To ensure transparency in internal grading, the Ministry has set mandatory national deadlines for the submission of Continuous Assessment (CA) records.
All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO, and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), must now adhere to the following windows: First Term CA in January, Second Term CA in April, and Third Term CA in August.
The Ministers emphasised that these timelines are designed to prevent the “doctoring” of results and to ensure that student data is processed promptly and accurately nationwide.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to transitioning WAEC and NECO to a full Computer-Based Test (CBT) model for both objective and essay papers by the May/June 2026 cycle.
Dr. Alausa assured stakeholders that the government is working closely with state governments and school administrators to ensure that the necessary digital infrastructure is in place for a smooth transition.
