The Federal Government has officially directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to fully transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all their examinations by 2026, in a move aimed at curbing widespread exam malpractice and restoring credibility to Nigeria’s assessment system.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this announcement during an inspection of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja. Dr. Alausa praised JAMB for its successful implementation of CBT, noting that the board has managed to conduct secure and transparent exams for over 2.2 million candidates nationwide, setting a standard he believes WAEC and NECO can match.
Starting November 2025, both WAEC and NECO will begin administering their objective (multiple-choice) papers through CBT. By the May/June 2026 examination cycle, the transition will be complete, with both objective and essay components conducted entirely via computer-based platforms.
“If JAMB can successfully conduct CBT exams for more than 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can do the same,” Dr. Alausa stated. “By 2026 exams which will come up in May/June, both the objectives and the essay will be fully on CBT. That is how we can eliminate exam malpractices.”
The minister emphasized that the government’s decision is rooted in the urgent need to tackle the persistent problem of cheating and “miracle centres” in public examinations. He pointed out that while JAMB’s CBT system has made exam fraud nearly impossible, WAEC and NECO still face significant challenges in this area.
Dr. Alausa also revealed that a committee is currently reviewing examination standards nationwide, with its recommendations expected soon. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that institutions like JAMB, WAEC, and NECO operate independently and efficiently.
This directive comes amid concerns over declining performance in public exams, highlighted by recent UTME results showing that over 1.5 million out of 1.95 million candidates scored below 200 out of 400. The minister attributed this to stricter anti-malpractice measures and insisted that technology-driven reforms are essential to restore faith in Nigeria’s education system.
