Mirian Gom 
MINNA, Nigeria – Only 58.67 per cent of candidates who sat the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal secured at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
NECO Registrar, Prof Dantani Wushishi, announced the results on Thursday at a press conference in Minna, Niger State, 63 days after the last paper was written.
The council said 804,948 candidates achieved the benchmark of five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics. The 2026 SSCE Internal examination ran from June 15 to July 23.
According to Wushishi, 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, while 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for it.
He said 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above when performance in English Language and Mathematics was not taken into account.
The registrar also announced a sharp decline in examination malpractice.
Wushishi said 1,406 candidates were involved in various forms of examination malpractice in 2026, compared with 3,878 candidates recorded in 2025.
He said the figure represented a 64.74 per cent reduction in reported examination malpractice.
The NECO boss attributed the conduct of the examination to the support of security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
He said their presence and vigilance helped reinforce discipline, deter malpractice and protect the integrity of the examination.
Wushishi thanked President Bola Tinubu for reappointing him for a second tenure as NECO registrar and commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for his support.
The registrar reassured candidates, parents and other stakeholders that NECO would continue to strengthen its examination processes and uphold the credibility of its results.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
