FG unveils fresh strategies to curb WAEC, NECO exam malpractice from 2026
The Federal Government has rolled out a new set of far-reaching measures aimed at stamping out examination malpractice in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations starting from 2026. The initiative forms part of broader reforms to enhance credibility, transparency, and public trust in Nigeria’s examination 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 Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed. They disclosed that the Ministry is tightening supervision and deploying targeted interventions to protect the integrity of national examinations.
One of the major innovations is the introduction of advanced question randomisation and serialisation. Although candidates will answer identical questions, the order and arrangement will vary for each student, ensuring that no two candidates have the same sequence and greatly limiting the chances of cheating and collusion.
The Ministry also reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on the transfer of students at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level. This long-standing directive, already conveyed through an official circular, will now be strictly enforced to curb last-minute school transfers often linked to examination fraud.
To promote greater transparency, new national guidelines for Continuous Assessment (CA) have been approved for immediate implementation. All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO and NBAIS, are required to comply with standardized submission deadlines:
- First Term CA: January
- Second Term CA: April
- Third Term CA: August
These compulsory timelines are designed to ensure uniformity, safeguard data integrity, and enable timely processing of assessment records nationwide.
In addition, the Ministry is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. This system will allow effective tracking of students throughout the examination process, enhance monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification, and data management.
The Ministers further assured stakeholders that examination conduct will be subject to stricter supervision and closer collaboration with relevant examination bodies to guarantee full compliance with established rules and ethical standards.
They stressed that the new measures demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering examinations that are credible, fair, and aligned with global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s specific educational challenges.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its resolve to work closely with examination bodies, state governments, school authorities, parents, and candidates to ensure the successful rollout of these reforms and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country.
