By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in the 2026 examinations and beyond in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.

Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade who announced the development in a statement on Monday said it was part of ongoing reforms to strengthen credibility, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system.

Boriowo informed that the Minister of Education, Dr.

Tunji Alausa alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed, stated that the Federal Ministry of Education was intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations.

“Among the key measures is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation mechanisms. While all candidates will answer the same examination questions, the sequencing and arrangement will differ for each candidate, ensuring that every student writes a unique version of the examination and significantly reducing opportunities for collusion.

“The Ministry also reaffirmed its strict policy prohibiting the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level. This directive, already communicated through an official circular, will be rigorously enforced to prevent last-minute school changes often associated with examination malpractice”, she said.

The Director also informed that new national Continuous Assessment guidelines had been developed for immediate implementation to further ensure transparency:

“All examination bodies (WAEC, NECO, NBAIS etc) must strictly follow the standardized submission deadlines for each academic period:Submission Windows• First Term CA: January• Second Term CA: April• Third Term CA: August

“These timelines are mandatory and designed to ensure consistency, data integrity, and prompt processing of Continuous Assessment records across the country.

“In addition, the Federal Ministry of Education is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity

Number for all candidates. This identifier will enable effective tracking of learners throughout the examination process, strengthen monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification, and data management”, she said.

The Ministers further assured stakeholders that examination administration will be conducted under strengthened supervision and coordination with relevant examination bodies to ensure strict compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards.

They emphasized that these measures reflect the Federal Government’s resolve to conduct examinations that are credible, fair, and reflective of global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s unique educational realities.

“The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents, and candidates to ensure the successful implementation of these strategies and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations nationwide”, the statement concluded.

The Benue State Government, through the Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board, BEQAE, has directed Jewel Model School, Makurdi, to immediately reverse the N106,000 being charged to parents for the registration of West African Examination Council, WAEC, and National Examinations Council, NECO, describing the levy as excessive and unjustifiable.

The directive followed a series of petitions from aggrieved parents who accused the school of imposing arbitrary examination fees.

Acting on the complaints, the Board summoned the school’s proprietor, principal and members of the Parents-Teachers Association, PTA executive to a meeting in Makurdi where they reportedly failed to justify the amount being demanded.

Speaking during the engagement, the Executive Secretary of BEQAEB, Dr. Terna Francis, clarified that the officially approved fee for WAEC registration was N28,000, while NECO was yet to announce its charges for the 2026 examinations.

“Schools are only permitted to collect officially approved examination fees, with a handling charge not exceeding N5,000 per examination,” Francis stated.

He further stressed that candidates were not mandated to register for both WAEC and NECO, noting that such decisions should be left to parents and students.

“Registration for WAEC and NECO is optional, not compulsory. Any additional costs must be transparently discussed and mutually agreed upon by parents, not imposed without consultation,” he added.

Francis also expressed concern over reports that parents at the school had been denied platforms to air their views, alleging that PTA meetings had not been held for nearly two years and that parents were restricted from commenting on the school’s WhatsApp communication platform.

He equally condemned the practice of routing school and examination payments through the proprietor’s personal bank account, describing it as a breach of accountability and transparency.

“Such practices undermine proper auditing and are unacceptable in a regulated educational system,” he said.

Francis consequently, directed the Director of Enforcement and Compliance Operations, Rev. Fr. Dr. Terungwa Tor, to place the school under close monitoring to ensure full compliance with the Board’s directives.

Warning against the exploitation of parents, Francis noted that schools found imposing undue financial burdens on learners risk severe sanctions, including the withdrawal of their operating licenses.

“These exploitative practices only worsen the problem of out-of-school children, which the government is determined to address,” he said.

Some students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, have called on the Federal Government to fully implement the judgment of the National Industrial Court by reinstating Professor Bernard Odoh as Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

The students, operating under the aegis of the Nigerian Students and Youth Association, UNIZIK chapter, urged the Minister of Education to act without further delay in reinstating Professor Odoh, in strict compliance with the court’s ruling.

President of the group, Chisom Nwangwu, recalled that Professor Odoh was removed from office by the Federal Ministry of Education following allegations that he was not a professor and therefore unqualified to occupy the position.

However, he said the National Industrial Court had since affirmed that Professor Odoh was duly promoted to the rank of professor in 2015 and consequently ordered that all his rights, entitlements and privileges be fully restored.

Nwangwu stressed that respect for court judgments is fundamental to nation-building and should not be treated as optional, urging Nigerians and government institutions to obey court orders if the country is to be firmly rooted in the rule of law.

He expressed concern that the continued failure to implement the court’s ruling, especially in a situation where the office of the Vice-Chancellor was neither legally nor practically vacant, sets a dangerous precedent.

“This persistent disregard for a valid court order undermines democratic values and sends the wrong signal to citizens. Such actions should not be allowed to define us as a people or as a democratic society,” Nwangwu said.

He noted that Professor Odoh is the first alumnus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University to be appointed Vice-Chancellor, describing his removal as regrettable and driven by what he termed malicious claims aimed at frustrating a young academic with a progressive vision for the development of the university.

The student leader also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter, noting that his administration is anchored on the principles of justice, fairness and respect for the rule of law.

According to him, such an intervention would help reaffirm public confidence in democratic institutions and reassure young Nigerians that justice, fairness and equality before the law remain attainable in the country.

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