The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), recording a significant reduction in examination malpractice compared with the previous year.
The NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, announced the results on Thursday during a press briefing.
According to Wushishi, 1,378,048 candidates registered for the 2026 examination, while 1,371,992 candidates sat for the examination.
The registrar said 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
He added that 1,126,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
The results provide an overview of the performance of candidates who participated in the 2026 NECO SSCE.
One of the major developments highlighted by NECO was the sharp decline in examination malpractice.
Wushishi said 1,496 candidates were involved in examination malpractice in 2026, compared with 3,878 candidates in 2025.
This represents a 64.74 per cent decrease in the number of candidates involved in malpractice.
The registrar attributed the reduction partly to the increasing adoption of computer-based examinations.
During the question-and-answer session, Wushishi explained that the adoption of computer-based testing had contributed to the reduction in examination malpractice recorded by the council.
The shift towards computer-based examinations has changed how candidates take NECO examinations and is part of the council’s efforts to strengthen examination integrity.
NECO has continued to introduce technology into its examination processes as part of measures aimed at improving monitoring and reducing opportunities for malpractice.
The registrar also addressed questions about so-called “miracle centres”, which are commonly associated with examination malpractice and alleged manipulation of examination results.
Wushishi said NECO was not aware of such centres and stressed that the council does not operate or promote them.
He explained that NECO registers examination centres based on established criteria but does not operate a network of schools that could be described as miracle centres.
“We register centres and have criteria for which we register these centres. We don’t know miracle centres because we have only one school and we cannot be associated with miracle centres,” he said.
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According to Wushishi, any such centres operating outside NECO’s control would be established by state governments or privately owned operators.
“If there are miracle centres, it is the state governments that established these miracle centres, or they are privately owned, but NECO does not believe in miracle centres,” he added.
2026 NECO Results In Numbers
- Candidates registered: 1,378,048
- Candidates who sat for the examination: 1,371,992
- Five credits and above, including English and Mathematics: 804,948 (58.67%)
- Five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics: 1,126,118 (84.70%)
- Candidates involved in malpractice: 1,496
- Candidates involved in malpractice in 2025: 3,878
- Reduction in malpractice: 64.74%
The release of the 2026 results marks another stage in the academic progression of thousands of Nigerian students who participated in the examination.
The decline in reported malpractice also highlights NECO’s increasing reliance on technology and computer-based testing as it seeks to strengthen the credibility of its examinations.
