The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal.
An analysis of the results show that 84.70 per cent of candidates recorded at least five credits irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.
NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, announced the results on Thursday at a press conference held at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
Wushishi then declared the 2026 SSCE Internal results released for candidates to access, urging them to continue with their education with renewed determination.
A total of 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination. The figure comprised 682,352 male candidates and 695,696 female candidates.
According to the NECO registrar, 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for the examination, comprising 678,903 males and 693,089 females.
Of those who sat for the examination, 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of their results in English Language and Mathematics.
The number dropped when English Language and Mathematics were included among the five required credits. Wushishi said 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent, obtained five credits and above including both subjects.
The examination was conducted across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as in six countries outside Nigeria.
Among the countries included are Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Saudi Arabia.
The 2026 SSCE Internal examination was conducted between June 15 and September 4, 2026. Wushishi said the results were released 63 days after the conclusion of the examination after the council completed its marking, verification and quality assurance processes.
He described this year’s examination cycle as one of the most challenging for the council, saying it tested its systems, procedures and preparedness.
The NECO boss said the council remained focused on ensuring that the certificates issued to candidates accurately reflected their academic performance.
He also stressed the importance of protecting the credibility of the examination against malpractice, impersonation and manipulation.
On examination malpractice, Wushishi disclosed that 1,406 candidates were involved in various forms of malpractice during the 2026 examination.
The figure represents a 64.74 per cent reduction from the 3,878 cases recorded during the 2025 examination.
He attributed the reduction to measures introduced by the council to strengthen examination security and quality assurance.
Wushishi also disclosed that 1,334 candidates with special needs participated in the examination.
The figure included 640 candidates with hearing impairment, 149 with visual impairment, 84 with albinism, 94 with autism, 136 with low vision and 231 candidates with adermatoglyphia.
The registrar thanked the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, Education Minister Olatunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education Suwaiba Said Ahmad, for their support to the council.
He also acknowledged the contributions of security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services, as well as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Independent National Electoral Commission and other institutions involved in the examination process.
Candidates can access their results through the NECO website by using their examination registration numbers.
The release of the 2026 results comes months after the Federal Government suspended a proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination and NECO SSCE.
The Ministry of Education had withdrawn its June 18, 2026 letter proposing the fee adjustment following concerns and feedback from members of the public.
“The letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the ministry said.
The proposed increase was linked to the rising cost of conducting national examinations, with the ministry citing logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment and quality assurance among the expenses affecting the examination bodies.
The ministry said the Education Minister directed the suspension to allow for broader consultations with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other stakeholders.
It stressed that the proposed fee review would not take effect until the consultation process was completed.
The government had earlier approved a proposed registration fee of N50,000 for candidates taking the 2027 WAEC and NECO examinations, up from the existing N27,500. The proposal attracted criticism from several stakeholders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students, over concerns about the financial burden on students and their parents.
