NECO Takes Strong Action Against Examination Malpractice in 2025 SSCE
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has implemented stringent measures against examination malpractice following the release of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results for external candidates. The council has officially blacklisted five examination supervisors and recommended four examination centres for derecognition due to their involvement in various forms of malpractice.
Details of the Blacklisted Supervisors and Centres
During the announcement at NECO's headquarters in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Registrar Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi revealed specific details about the disciplinary actions. The blacklisted supervisors include two from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and one each from Adamawa, Kano, and Ondo states. These individuals were found to have actively aided and abetted examination malpractice during the administration of the tests.
Regarding the examination centres facing derecognition, Professor Wushishi identified two centres in Niger State, and one each in Yobe and Kano states. These centres were implicated in what authorities describe as whole-centre malpractice, indicating systemic issues rather than isolated incidents.
Alarming Increase in Malpractice Cases
The 2025 SSCE examination recorded a significant rise in malpractice incidents compared to previous years. According to official statistics, a total of 9,016 malpractice cases were documented during the examination period. This represents a concerning 31% increase from the 6,160 cases recorded in 2024, highlighting growing challenges in maintaining examination integrity.
Despite these challenges, Professor Wushishi emphasized that NECO maintained strict standards throughout the examination process and upheld its zero-tolerance policy toward malpractice. The council implemented robust monitoring mechanisms to detect and address irregularities during both the conduct of examinations and the subsequent release of results.
Comprehensive Performance Analysis of Candidates
The registrar provided detailed statistics regarding candidate participation and performance in the 2025 SSCE external examination. A total of 96,979 candidates registered for the November/December 2025 examination, with 95,160 actually sitting for the papers. The gender distribution showed 50,785 male candidates (53.36%) and 44,375 female candidates (46.63%).
In terms of subject performance, English Language results showed that 93,425 candidates sat for the subject, with 73,167 candidates (78.32%) obtaining credit passes and above. Mathematics performance was even stronger, with 93,330 candidates sitting for the subject and 85,256 candidates (91.36%) earning credit passes and above.
Overall Achievement Rates Remain Strong
Despite the malpractice challenges, overall candidate achievement remained impressive. Professor Wushishi reported that 68,166 candidates, representing 71.63% of those who sat for the examination, obtained five credits and above, including both Mathematics and English Language. When considering performance without the English and Mathematics requirement, 82,082 candidates (86.26%) secured five credits and above.
The examination covered 16 different subjects, providing comprehensive assessment opportunities for candidates across various academic disciplines. These results demonstrate that while malpractice remains a concern, the majority of candidates continue to perform well under NECO's examination system.
NECO's Ongoing Commitment to Examination Integrity
The blacklisting of supervisors and centres represents part of NECO's broader strategy to combat examination malpractice and maintain the credibility of Nigeria's educational assessment system. The council has reinforced its commitment to implementing strict measures against any form of examination irregularity, ensuring that results accurately reflect candidates' true abilities.
This decisive action sends a clear message to all stakeholders in the education sector about the serious consequences of examination malpractice. As NECO continues to refine its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, these measures aim to preserve the integrity of Nigeria's educational qualifications and maintain public confidence in examination results.
