Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has introduced a sweeping set of reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in the 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) cycles and restoring integrity to Nigeria’s national assessment system. The measures, announced in Abuja by Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed, reflect the government’s determination to tackle long-standing irregularities that have undermined public confidence in public examinations.
According to the official statement released by the Federal Ministry of Education, the reforms combine technology-driven solutions, stronger administrative controls, and standardised guidelines enforced across all stages of national examination administration. The initiative marks one of the most concerted efforts by the FG to curb malpractice, including cheating, collusion and the mishandling of exam data, which have for years dogged WAEC and NECO assessments.
A cornerstone of the reforms is the introduction of an Examination Learners’ Identity Number (ELIN) — a unique identifier assigned to every candidate sitting the WAEC and NECO exams. The ministry said the ELIN will enable effective tracking of candidates throughout the examination process, improving monitoring, accountability, and the integrity of results management. Previously, misidentification and impersonation have been major challenges in high-stakes exams.
To further safeguard exam integrity, the government announced the deployment of an enhanced question randomisation and serialisation system. While all candidates will answer the same set of questions, their sequencing and arrangement will differ, making it difficult for students to engage in collusion and answer sharing during exam sittings. This is part of a broader effort to leverage digital and procedural innovations to stay ahead of malpractice tactics.
The government has also reaffirmed its strict policy against last-minute student transfers, especially for Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) candidates. Transfers between schools shortly before examinations have been linked in the past to cases of malpractice, as some students move to institutions perceived to be less stringent. Under the new approach, such policy will be rigorously enforced to deter abuses.
A key structural reform is the rollout of standardised Continuous Assessment (CA) guidelines across all accredited examination bodies, mandating strict timelines for submission and processing of termly assessment records. According to the ministry’s directive, CA records must be submitted in January (first term), April (second term) and August (third term) for all candidates. This measure is expected to enhance consistency, data integrity and transparency in pre-exam evaluations, which form part of the final assessment framework.
The initiative also calls for closer supervision and coordination between the Federal Ministry of Education and examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), to ensure compliance with uniform standards before, during and after exams. The ministry emphasised that these reforms align with international best practices while taking into account Nigeria’s specific educational realities.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the reform package as a long-overdue step toward tackling entrenched malpractice, which has historically threatened the credibility of public exams and the value of certificates. Analysts say improved tracking, advanced question management and strengthened continuous assessment protocols could collectively form a more robust system capable of deterring cheating.
However, successful implementation hinges on effective coordination with schools, parents, teachers and candidates, as well as sufficient funding and logistical support to operationalise technology and monitoring systems nationwide. The ministry has pledged to work closely with state governments, school administrators and other partners to ensure a smooth rollout of the measures ahead of the 2026 examination cycle.
The FG has stressed that the reforms reflect its resolve to uphold fairness, credibility and excellence in Nigeria’s education sector, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to malpractice that undermines education quality and public trust.
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