The Federal Government has unveiled fresh measures aimed at curbing examination malpractice in the conduct of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, as part of broader reforms to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s assessment system.
The new initiatives, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmed, include enhanced question randomisation and serialisation mechanisms designed to drastically reduce collusion among candidates.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, the ministers explained that although candidates will answer the same questions, the sequence and arrangement of the questions will differ for each candidate. This approach, they noted, will ensure that every student writes a unique version of the examination, making cheating more difficult.
The government also reaffirmed its strict ban on the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level, stressing that the policy will be rigorously enforced. According to the ministers, last-minute school transfers have been identified as a major channel for examination malpractice and must be eliminated.
To further promote transparency and standardisation, the Federal Ministry of Education has developed new national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines for immediate implementation. Under the new framework, all examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO and NBAIS, are required to adhere strictly to uniform submission deadlines for continuous assessment scores.
The timelines mandate that first-term CA must be submitted in January, second-term CA in April, and third-term CA in August. The ministry said the deadlines are compulsory and aimed at ensuring consistency, data integrity and timely processing of assessment records nationwide.
As part of the reforms, the government is also introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. The identifier will enable effective tracking of learners throughout the examination process, enhance monitoring and accountability, and support long-term improvements in assessment, certification and data management.
The ministers assured parents, candidates and other stakeholders that examinations will now be conducted under strengthened supervision and closer coordination with relevant examination bodies to ensure full compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards.
They stressed that the measures demonstrate the Federal Government’s resolve to deliver credible and fair examinations that meet global best practices while addressing Nigeria’s unique educational challenges, adding that the ministry will continue to work closely with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents and candidates to ensure the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations across the country