NECO question papers were sold for N3,000 before exams — Minister

Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, disclosed that examination questions for the National Examinations Council (NECO) were purchased for N3,000 before the exams, describing the level of exam malpractice in Nigeria as "mind-boggling." At a meeting with stakeholders in the education sector, Alausa urged parents, teachers, proprietors, principals, invigilators and students to avoid practices that could undermine the integrity of public exams.

He revealed that the situation had been tolerated for years, creating an unfair system where genuine students were at a disadvantage. Alausa also mentioned that during his tenure, he was regularly sent leaked questions from Wushishi, the Registrar of NECO, who would sell the questions for N3,000 before the exams. The minister emphasized that the fight against malpractice required collaboration from all stakeholders in the education system, including parents, schools, teachers, invigilators, and principals.

He warned that the Federal Government would intensify measures to protect the integrity of public examinations, aiming to ensure that academic qualifications reflect genuine learning and merit.