FG Rolls Out Anti-Malpractice Reforms for WAEC, NECO Exams

The Federal Government has unveiled a set of reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in WAEC and NECO examinations from 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the credibility and transparency of Nigeria’s assessment system.

The announcement was made in a press statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folashade.

The measures were disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed.

According to the ministry, the reforms are designed to reinforce public confidence in national examinations through tighter oversight and improved examination processes.

“The Federal Ministry of Education is intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations,” the ministers said.

One of the key measures is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation, under which all candidates will answer the same questions but in different sequences and arrangements.

The approach is expected to ensure that each candidate writes a unique version of the examination, reducing opportunities for collusion.

The government also restated its ban on the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level, noting that the directive has already been circulated and will be strictly enforced. The restriction is aimed at addressing last-minute school transfers often associated to examination malpractice.

In addition, new national Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines have been developed for immediate implementation.

The ministry said all examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO and NBAIS, must adhere to standardised submission timelines: January for first-term CA, April for second-term CA, and August for third-term CA.

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

The identifier is intended to enhance learner tracking, improve monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification and data management.

The ministers said examination administration will now be conducted under stricter supervision and closer coordination with examination bodies to ensure compliance with guidelines and ethical standards. They said the reforms demonstrate the government’s commitment to conducting examinations that are “credible, fair, and reflective of global best practices.”

The Federal Ministry of Education said it will continue to work with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents and candidates to ensure effective implementation of the measures ahead of the 2026 examinations.