FG Unveils Sweeping Reforms to End WAEC, NECO Exam Malpractice from 2026

T The Federal Government has announced far-reaching reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations beginning from the 2026 examination cycle.

The new measures, unveiled by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed, are part of broader efforts to strengthen the credibility, transparency and public confidence in Nigeria’s national assessment system.

Speaking on the reforms, Dr. Alausa said the Ministry is determined to safeguard the integrity of public examinations through innovation, strict enforcement of existing policies and improved monitoring mechanisms.

“We are intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to ensure that national examinations are conducted with the highest level of integrity, transparency and credibility,” the Minister stated.

One of the major innovations introduced is an enhanced question randomisation and serialisation system, under which all candidates will answer the same questions but with different sequencing and arrangements.

According to the Ministry, this means that every candidate will sit for a uniquely arranged version of the examination, a move designed to drastically reduce collusion and other forms of cheating in examination halls.

The Federal Ministry of Education also reaffirmed its strict prohibition of candidate transfers at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level, warning that the policy will now be rigorously enforced.

“The ban on SS3 transfers, which has already been communicated through an official circular, will be strictly implemented to curb last-minute school changes that are often linked to examination malpractice,” the Ministry stressed.

To further promote transparency and uniformity, the government has introduced new national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines for immediate implementation across all examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO and NBAIS.
Under the new framework, standardized submission deadlines have been fixed as follows:

First Term CA: January

Second Term CA: April

Third Term CA: August

The Ministry noted that these timelines are mandatory and intended to ensure consistency, data integrity and timely processing of Continuous Assessment records nationwide.

Another major reform is the introduction of a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates.

The identifier will enable effective tracking of learners throughout the examination process and enhance accountability, monitoring and long-term reforms in assessment and certification.

Ahmed emphasized that examination administration will now be conducted under strengthened supervision and closer coordination with examination bodies.

“These measures reflect the Federal Government’s resolve to conduct examinations that are credible, fair and aligned with global best practices, while also addressing Nigeria’s unique educational realities,” she said.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents and candidates to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the 2026 examinations nationwide.

The reforms, officials said, signal a decisive step towards restoring confidence in Nigeria’s examination system and ensuring that academic results truly reflect students’ abilities and efforts.