The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal, with 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent, securing at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, announced the results on Thursday at a press briefing at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
Wushishi said 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, comprising 682,352 males and 695,696 females, while 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for the exercise.
The examination was conducted between June 15 and July 23, 2026.
According to the registrar, 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
He said the results were released after the completion of marking, verification and quality assurance processes, with the marking exercise concluded on September 4.
Wushishi said the release came 63 days after the last paper was written.
The NECO boss also disclosed that 1,406 candidates were involved in various forms of examination malpractice during the 2026 exercise, compared with 3,878 candidates recorded in 2025.
He described the development as a significant reduction in malpractice cases, putting the decline at about 64 per cent.
According to him, the reduction reflected the council’s efforts to strengthen examination procedures and safeguard the integrity of its certificates.
Wushishi said the examination had tested the council’s systems and processes, adding that extensive coordination, assessment, verification and quality assurance were undertaken before the results were released.
He said NECO was determined to ensure that certificates issued to candidates reflected their actual academic performance and were not compromised by impersonation, malpractice or other forms of manipulation.
The registrar further disclosed that 1,334 candidates with special needs participated in the 2026 examination.
He listed them as 640 candidates with hearing impairment, 149 with visual impairment, 84 with albinism, 94 with autism, 136 with low vision and 231 candidates with adermatoglyphia.
Wushishi said the council had also compiled detailed analyses of candidates’ performance across states, gender and geopolitical zones, as well as data on examination malpractice by type and subject.
He directed candidates to access their results through the NECO website using their examination registration numbers.
The registrar commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and reappointment for a second term, as well as the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad.
He also acknowledged the contributions of school owners, principals, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to the successful conduct of the examination.
Wushishi particularly praised security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), for their role in maintaining security and preventing examination-related misconduct.
He assured stakeholders that NECO would continue to uphold the credibility of its examinations and strengthen measures aimed at ensuring dependable national certification.
