NECO: 58.67% score five credits including English, Mathematics as malpractice drops

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has disclosed that 58.67 percent of the candidates who sat the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal obtained a minimum of five credits, including English Language and Mathematics. This was announced by the Council's Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, at a press briefing in Minna, Niger State.

A total of 804,948 candidates, consisting of 682,352 males and 695,696 females, registered for the examination. Out of these, 1,162,118 candidates, or 84.70 percent, successfully obtained five credits or above, regardless of whether English Language and Mathematics were included in their scores.

The 2026 examination also saw a significant drop in examination malpractice, with only 1,406 cases reported, compared to 3,878 cases in 2025. This represents a reduction of approximately 63.8 percent from the previous year. The Registrar attributed this improvement to NECO's ongoing efforts to enhance its examination processes and maintain the integrity of its certificates.

The marking process concluded on September 4, 2026, and the release of results followed 63 days after the examination began. NECO had also provided accommodations for 1,334 candidates with special needs, including those with hearing impairment, visual impairment, albinism, autism, low vision, and adermatoglyphia.

Detailed performance analyses by state, gender, and geopolitical zones were included in the results, along with comparisons of examination malpractice by type and subject. NECO has officially released the 2026 SSCE Internal results, and candidates can access them through the NECO website using their registration numbers.

The Registrar expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reappointing him, as well as to the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad. He also acknowledged the support of school owners, principals, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders throughout the examination process.