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The Nigerian Government has rolled out a far-reaching package of reforms designed to stamp out examination malpractice ahead of the 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, in a renewed push to restore confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system.
The new measures were announced on Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who said the reforms form part of broader efforts to improve transparency, accountability and credibility in national examinations.
According to the minister, the Federal Ministry of Education is tightening its oversight of examination processes and implementing targeted interventions to protect the integrity of assessments across the country.
One of the key innovations is the adoption of advanced question randomisation and serialisation. While candidates will still answer the same questions, the order and structure of the papers will vary from one candidate to another, ensuring that each student receives a distinct version of the examination and sharply limiting opportunities for cheating and collusion.
The ministry also reaffirmed its prohibition of candidate transfers at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level, stressing that the policy, already communicated through an official circular, will be rigorously enforced.
According to him, “The measure is aimed at curbing last-minute school changes often linked to examination malpractice.”
In a further move to enhance transparency and standardisation, the ministry has introduced new national guidelines for continuous assessment (CA), which take effect immediately.
“All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO, and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), are required to adhere strictly to standardised submission timelines.
Under the new framework, first-term CA records must be submitted in January, second-term in April, and third-term in August.
“The timelines are mandatory to ensure consistency, data integrity, and timely processing nationwide. In addition, the Federal Government is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates.
“The identifier is expected to enhance learner tracking throughout the examination process, strengthen monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification, and data management,” the Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, quoted the minister as saying.
Dr Alausa assured education stakeholders that the conduct of examinations would be subject to stricter supervision and closer collaboration with examination bodies, adding that all processes would comply fully with approved guidelines and ethical standards.
