The Federal Government has mandated the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to fully transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all their exams by 2026. This directive was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a tour of CBT centers in Bwari on Monday and a real-time monitoring of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) digital control room.
By May/June 2026, both objective and essay components of WAEC and NECO exams will be fully computer-based, marking a significant shift in the administration of public exams in Nigeria. The move is aimed at eliminating examination malpractices, with Dr. Alausa stating that if JAMB can successfully administer CBT exams for over 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO should be able to do the same. The shift to CBT will cover all components, including practical and essay papers.
A committee, led by JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, is currently auditing Nigeria’s examination processes. Their findings, expected by the end of next month, will guide reforms across the education system. Dr. Alausa expressed deep satisfaction with the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing it as a “world-class exercise” that meets international standards. He praised JAMB for its commitment to integrity, transparency, and efficiency in running exams, reinforcing the idea that credible exams can be conducted in Nigeria.
Prof. Oloyede, in addressing concerns about early arrival times and center postings, clarified that candidates are expected to arrive early for security and biometric screening. He explained that exams start at 8 a.m. to ensure proper verification of all 250 candidates per session. Regarding allegations of candidates being assigned to centers they did not choose, he firmly denied the claims, challenging anyone with such evidence to come forward.
In terms of security, Prof. Oloyede revealed that over 40 candidates had been arrested for impersonation and other exam malpractice offenses during the ongoing UTME. He assured that results would only be released after thorough verification. As of Sunday, more than 1.6 million candidates had completed their exams, with the process expected to conclude smoothly within the week.
The full transition to CBT for WAEC and NECO exams by 2026 is part of the broader strategy to improve exam credibility and reduce malpractice across the country.
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