Exam Malpractice: Alausa Reveals How NECO Questions Were Allegedly Sold for ₦3,000, Vows Crackdown
Hope Ajayi 
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has alleged that examination questions for the National Examinations Council (NECO) were previously sold for as little as ₦3,000 before candidates sat for the examinations, describing the scale of examination malpractice in Nigeria as alarming.
Alausa made the disclosure on Thursday during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other stakeholders, where he reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring integrity to public examinations.
He warned that the widespread acceptance of examination malpractice had created an environment where even hardworking students felt pressured to engage in cheating to remain competitive.
“It’s sad. Before we came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling. The country accepted it. It was a nightmare,” Alausa said.
‘Wushishi’ Became Code for Leaked Questions
“They bought the questions for ₦3,000 before the examination. They called it Wushishi. I later discovered that Wushishi had become synonymous with accessing leaked examination questions,” he alleged.
“Every morning I woke up with anxiety. Questions would be sent to me, whether English or Chemistry, and after forwarding them for verification, I was told, ‘Unfortunately, that’s the question for today’s examination,'” he said.
“The students are actually the smallest players. The people who should provide deterrence are often the ones involved,” he stated.
Among the reforms is the introduction of serialised examination questions, designed to make it significantly more difficult for candidates to rely on leaked examination materials.
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Mirian Gom 
