The Federal Government has rolled out a robust new strategy designed to completely eradicate examination malpractice during the crucial 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) tests. This initiative forms a core part of broader reforms aimed at restoring trust and transparency to Nigeria's national assessment framework.
Enhanced Security and Question Randomisation
Announcing the plan in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the Federal Ministry of Education is ramping up oversight with specific, targeted actions. A cornerstone of the new approach is the introduction of advanced question randomisation and serialisation. While all candidates will tackle the same core questions, the order and layout will be uniquely scrambled for each individual. This creates a distinct exam paper for every student, making collusion and copying during the test extremely difficult.
Strict Bans and New Assessment Guidelines
The ministry is also putting its foot down on a known malpractice loophole: the last-minute transfer of students. The ban on transferring candidates in Senior Secondary School Three (SS3), already communicated via an official circular, will now be rigorously enforced. Dr. Alausa explained that this measure directly targets the practice of moving schools solely to engage in exam fraud.
To bolster transparency from the ground up, the government has issued fresh national guidelines for continuous assessment (CA) with immediate effect. All major examination bodies—WAEC, NECO, and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS)—must comply with strict, standardized submission deadlines. First-term CA records are due in January, second-term in April, and third-term in August. These fixed timelines are mandatory to ensure uniform data integrity and timely processing across the country.
New Learner ID and Government Assurance
In a significant move for long-term tracking, the Federal Government will introduce a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for every candidate. According to a statement from the ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, this identifier will improve monitoring of learners throughout the examination cycle, strengthen accountability, and support future reforms in certification and data management.
Dr. Alausa assured all stakeholders that the administration of the 2026 examinations will be conducted under heightened supervision and in close partnership with the relevant examination bodies to guarantee full adherence to ethical standards. He emphasized that these steps reflect the government's unwavering commitment to delivering credible, fair, and globally competitive examinations that address Nigeria's unique educational challenges.
The Ministry has reaffirmed its determination to collaborate with examination councils, state governments, school administrators, parents, and students to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of these strategies nationwide.
