84.70% Score Five Credits As NECO Releases 2026 Results
By ANITA KNIGHT
NECO Releases 2026 SSCE Results, Records Drop in Examination Malpractice
THE National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), with 84.70 per cent of candidates obtaining five credits and above, irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
The NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed the results on Thursday during a press briefing, giving an overview of candidates’ performance and the council’s efforts to curb examination malpractice.
Over 1.37 Million Candidates Sat for Examination
According to Wushishi, 1,378,048 candidates registered for the 2026 examination, while 1,371,992 eventually sat for the examination.
Of those who sat for the examination, 1,126,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained at least five credits, regardless of whether they passed English Language and Mathematics.
However, the proportion was considerably lower when the two core subjects were included. Wushishi said 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
The figures provide two different measures of overall performance and highlight the continuing importance of English Language and Mathematics in determining candidates’ broader academic outcomes.
Malpractice Drops by 64.74 Per Cent
One of the major developments highlighted by the examination council was the reduction in reported examination malpractice.
Wushishi said 1,496 candidates were involved in examination malpractice in 2026, compared with 3,878 candidates recorded in 2025.
The decline represents a 64.74 per cent reduction, according to the registrar.
He attributed part of the improvement to the increasing adoption of computer-based examinations, which, he said, has helped strengthen examination monitoring and reduce opportunities for malpractice.
The development comes amid continuing concerns over examination integrity and the proliferation of mechanisms designed to circumvent established assessment procedures.
NECO Distances Itself from ‘Miracle Centres’
The registrar also addressed the issue of so-called “miracle centres”, which have long attracted concern within Nigeria’s examination system.
Wushishi maintained that NECO does not operate such centres. He explained that the council has established criteria for registering examination centres but owns only one school.
He therefore rejected suggestions that NECO is directly responsible for facilities described as miracle centres, saying such centres, where they exist, may be operated by state governments or private owners.
The registrar reiterated that the council does not endorse the concept.
Candidates Can Access Results Online
Candidates who participated in the 2026 NECO SSCE can check their results through the council’s official results portal using their examination details and result-checking token.
The release marks another stage in the examination cycle, while the reported decline in malpractice provides a significant indicator of the council’s ongoing efforts to strengthen examination administration.
