NECO Exposes Examination Malpractice in Three Northern States During 2025 SSCE
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has revealed significant examination malpractice incidents during the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), with whole-centre malpractice detected across three northern states. The examination body has taken decisive action against the affected centres and supervisors involved in these irregularities.
States and Centres Implicated in Malpractice
According to NECO Registrar Professor Dantani Wushishi, the council identified malpractice at examination centres in three northern states: two centres in Niger State, one centre in Kano State, and one centre in Yobe State. The 2025 internal SSCE was conducted from June 16 to July 25, 2025, with these malpractice cases discovered during the examination period.
Professor Wushishi announced these findings during a press conference in Minna, Niger State on February 3, 2026, where he disclosed that NECO has recommended the derecognition of the affected examination centres. This means these centres will no longer be authorized to host NECO examinations due to their involvement in systematic malpractice.
Supervisors Recommended for Blacklisting
In addition to the centres, NECO has identified five supervisors who allegedly facilitated examination malpractice. The council has recommended these supervisors for blacklisting, which would prohibit them from supervising any future NECO examinations.
The implicated supervisors come from various regions across Nigeria:
- Two supervisors from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
- One supervisor from Kano State
- One supervisor from Adamawa State
- One supervisor from Ondo State
This geographic spread indicates that examination malpractice remains a nationwide challenge requiring continued vigilance from educational authorities.
Performance Statistics from 2025 SSCE
Despite the malpractice incidents, NECO reported strong overall performance from candidates who sat for the 2025 SSCE. Out of 93,425 candidates who took the English paper, 73,167 candidates (representing 78.32%) achieved five credits and above, including English Language.
In Mathematics, the performance was even more impressive, with 85,256 candidates (91.35%) out of 93,330 who sat for the paper scoring five credits and above. These results demonstrate that many Nigerian students continue to excel academically despite challenges in the examination system.
Professor Wushishi emphasized that the SSCE serves a crucial purpose in Nigerian education, providing candidates with the necessary qualifications for university admission both within Nigeria and internationally. He noted that the examination offers a valuable second chance for students to improve their academic credentials.
Context and Broader Examination Reforms
The 2025 SSCE results announcement comes alongside NECO's ongoing efforts to modernize Nigeria's examination system. The council has reported a significant 61.58% reduction in examination malpractice cases compared to previous years, indicating progress in combating academic dishonesty.
NECO has also confirmed its transition to computer-based testing (CBT) and implementation of a streamlined curriculum featuring 38 subjects. These reforms aim to enhance the integrity and efficiency of national examinations while keeping pace with global educational standards.
The council simultaneously released the 2025 SSCE External results on February 3, 2026, providing certification opportunities for private candidates outside regular school systems. This dual release demonstrates NECO's commitment to serving diverse educational needs across Nigeria.
As Nigeria continues to strengthen its educational assessment systems, incidents like the whole-centre malpractice in three northern states highlight the ongoing need for vigilance, transparency, and robust anti-malpractice measures to maintain the credibility of national examinations.
