NECO releases the 2026 SSCE results as 804,948 candidates secure five credits including English and Maths, while malpractice cases fall by 64.74%.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal, recording a notable improvement in the fight against examination malpractice.
According to the examination body, 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for the examination out of the 1,378,048 students who registered for the exercise.
The results were officially announced on Thursday by the Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, 63 days after candidates completed the final paper of the examination.
The 2026 SSCE Internal was conducted from June 15 to July 23 across the country, with candidates sitting for examinations in various subjects as part of the requirements for obtaining their senior school certificates.
One of the major highlights of the results was the number of candidates who successfully obtained at least five credits, including passes in English Language and Mathematics.
NECO disclosed that 804,948 candidates achieved this benchmark, representing 58.67 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination.
The figure provides an indication of the number of candidates who met the five-credit requirement when performance in the two compulsory subjects was taken into consideration.
However, the overall number of candidates who obtained five credits and above was significantly higher when English Language and Mathematics were excluded from the assessment.
Wushishi said 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent of those who participated in the examination, secured five credits and above irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
The difference between the two figures highlights the impact of results in the two core subjects on the overall five-credit benchmark commonly considered by students seeking admission into higher institutions.
Meanwhile, NECO reported a substantial decline in examination malpractice during the 2026 exercise.
A total of 1,406 candidates were identified as being involved in various forms of examination malpractice, according to the council.
The figure represents a considerable reduction compared with the 3,878 candidates recorded for similar offences during the 2025 examination.
Based on the figures released by the examination body, cases of malpractice dropped by 64.74 per cent within one year.
The development is significant because examination malpractice has remained one of the persistent challenges confronting the credibility of public examinations in Nigeria.
NECO has over the years introduced different measures aimed at strengthening examination supervision, improving monitoring and preventing candidates or other individuals from compromising the examination process.
The council’s latest figures suggest that those measures, alongside increased monitoring and security arrangements, may have contributed to the reduction recorded in the 2026 exercise.
Speaking after the release of the results, Wushishi expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for reappointing him for a second tenure as the Registrar of NECO.
The registrar also acknowledged the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for his confidence in the leadership of the council.
Wushishi further recognised the contribution of security agencies to the successful conduct of the examination across the country.
He specifically commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their vigilance and support during the examination period.
According to the registrar, the presence and cooperation of the security agencies helped to strengthen the security arrangements put in place for the exercise.
The 2026 examination involved more than 1.37 million candidates, making its administration a major undertaking for NECO and other stakeholders involved in the education sector.
The process required the coordination of examination officials, schools, supervisors, security personnel and other relevant authorities across different parts of the country.
The release of the results now gives candidates the opportunity to check their individual performances and determine their next steps.
For students who intend to proceed to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education or other tertiary institutions, their NECO results may form part of the academic qualifications required for admission, depending on the requirements of their preferred institutions and courses.
Candidates who did not obtain the required grades may also need to examine the options available to them based on their individual results and future academic plans.
The results are also expected to provide schools and education stakeholders with useful information about the academic performance of candidates who participated in the examination.
Of particular interest is the difference between the 84.70 per cent recorded for candidates who obtained five credits and above without considering English Language and Mathematics and the 58.67 per cent who achieved the same benchmark while including the two subjects.
The figures underscore the importance of English Language and Mathematics in determining whether candidates meet the broader five-credit benchmark.
Beyond academic performance, the significant reduction in malpractice cases remains another major feature of the 2026 examination.
The number fell from 3,878 cases in 2025 to 1,406 in 2026, representing a reduction of 2,472 recorded cases.
NECO’s management has continued to emphasise the need for credible examinations as part of efforts to maintain confidence in Nigeria’s education system.
The council’s collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders remains central to its efforts to prevent examination-related offences.
With the 2026 results now released, candidates and their families are expected to begin reviewing the outcome and planning their next academic or career steps.
The announcement also marks the completion of another major examination cycle for NECO, while attention will now shift towards subsequent examinations and continued efforts to improve the integrity and efficiency of the country’s assessment system.