NECO records 58.67% pass rate in English, Maths

A total of 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent of those who sat for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination conducted by the National Examinations Council, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The Registrar of NECO, Prof Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this on Thursday during the release of the 2026 internal examination results.

Wushishi said 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, comprising 682,352 male and 695,696 female candidates.

He said 1,371,992 candidates sat for the examination, comprising 678,903 males and 693,089 females.

According to him, 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.

Wushishi said 1,334 candidates with special needs also sat for the examination.

He disclosed that 1,406 candidates were involved in examination malpractice in 2026, compared with 3,878 in 2025, representing a 64.74 per cent decrease.

The registrar said the 2026 examination represented an improvement over the 2025 exercise.

Wushishi, while responding to questions from journalists, also distanced NECO from so-called miracle centres, saying the examination body had no dealings with such centres.

“NECO is not aware of miracle centres because we don’t have any business with them,” he said.

He added that NECO had only one school and could not be associated with miracle centres.

“We register centres and have criteria for which we register these centres. We don’t know miracle centres because we have only one school and we cannot be associated with miracle centres.

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“If there are miracle centres, it is the state governments that established these miracle centres or they are privately owned, but NECO does not believe in miracle centres,” he said.

Meanwhile, at an event preceding the release of the 2026 examination results, Wushishi honoured staff of the examination body at the 2025 Annual Staff Productivity Awards.

He said the awards were designed to reward workers and pupils for their hard work, dedication and performance.

The registrar stressed that banditry, kidnapping and sit-at-home orders could not stop NECO examinations.

Highlighting the council’s achievements, he cited the successful and transparent conduct of its internal examinations, prompt release of results, rancour-free promotion exercises and development of ICT software.

Wushishi said the annual awards recognised workers in zones, states and headquarters, as well as pupils who excelled in its examinations during the year.

He disclosed that 55 former workers received certificates of service for their retirement in 2025.

He noted that the awards were grouped into categories, including certificates for retirees, recognition for hardworking and dedicated staff, and prizes for the best state coordinator, best driver and top-performing pupils.

The Director-General of Student Affairs, Niger State Government, Bello Sheriff, who spoke on behalf of the state government, congratulated the recipients and charged the council to sustain its tempo of success.

Among the awardees were Akai Kuyet, who emerged best female in the SSCE category, and Felix Emenike, who emerged best male.

Others were Ezeudu Akachukwu, who emerged best male, and Ubochi Nancy, who emerged best female in the National Gifted Examination category.