The National Examination Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). The latest metrics reveal a significant milestone in Nigeria`s secondary education sector, characterized by steady academic performance and a drastic reduction in examination irregularities nationwide.

The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, made the announcement on Thursday during a comprehensive press briefing at the council’s headquarters. Addressing journalists, Wushishi provided a detailed statistical breakdown of candidate registration, attendance, and general performance outcomes for the 2026 examination cycle.

According to the registrar, a total of 1,378,048 candidates registered for the nationwide school-based examination. However, data compiled by the council showed that 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for the examination, indicating a highly impressive institutional attendance and participation rate across the various states.

A further analysis of the performance indices revealed that 804,948 candidates secured five credits and above, including the mandatory English Language and Mathematics. This critical benchmark represents 58.67% of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination, marking a vital index for tertiary education eligibility.

In a similar vein, candidates who obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics stood at 1,126,118. This category accounts for 84.70% of the overall student population that completed the 2026 academic evaluation.

The most notable breakthrough of the 2026 examination cycle was a historic drop in cheating. Prof. Wushishi revealed that only 1,496 candidates were involved in examination malpractice this year, representing a massive 64.74% decrease from the 3,878 cases recorded during the 2025 diet.

The registrar attributed this sharp decline in academic dishonesty to the council`s ongoing technological advancements. Speaking during the interactive question-and-answer session, Wushishi explained that the strategic adoption of computer-based examinations (CBT) effectively neutralized traditional infractions and tightened overall security.

Prof. Wushishi also seized the opportunity to address public concerns regarding illegal examination hubs, stating categorically that NECO does not recognize or tolerate "miracle centres." He clarified that the council operates under strict institutional guidelines, owning only one staff school and maintaining no affiliation with fraudulent operations.

Concluding his address, the NECO boss shifted the responsibility of monitoring suspicious schools back to local authorities and private proprietors. He emphasized that if such compromised facilities exist, they are either established by state governments or run privately, reiterating that NECO remains fully committed to absolute examination integrity.