The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said the National Examinations Council (NECO) is now better positioned to conduct credible examinations, following the council’s aggressive adoption of technology and transition to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE).
Alausa made the remarks at a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPPS) and other education stakeholders, where he commended the leadership of NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, for driving what he described as a significant transformation of the examination body.
“I can tell you today, with all unequivocation, NECO is better placed. NECO conducts better exams. NECO uses better technology,” the minister said.
He particularly praised the council’s speed in adopting computer-based testing, describing its technological transformation as “amazing.”
“When we also go to this CBT, they move quickly, they deploy better technology. The transformation of NECO, amazing,” Alausa said.
The minister said NECO’s ability to rapidly adopt new technologies was among the reasons the Federal Government supported Wushishi’s continued leadership of the council, stressing that the decision was based on performance rather than patronage.
“We’ve worked with him, we’ve got him to where we want, he’s doing so well, why do we have to change him?” he asked.
“This thing is not about patronage to us. It’s not about patronage, it’s about value,” he added.
The commendation comes against the backdrop of NECO’s broader digital transformation, which includes online registration, biometric verification, computer-based testing for selected examinations, digital certificates and automated grading.
The Federal Government is also gradually converting NECO examinations from the traditional Paper-Pencil Test (PPT) to Computer-Based Examination (CBE), as part of efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen examination security and curb malpractice.
Alausa said the increased use of technology was particularly important in the fight against examination malpractice, which he described as one of the most serious threats to the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
“It’s sad. Before we came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare,” he said.
According to the minister, examination questions were allegedly being obtained for as little as N3,000 before the current NECO leadership began implementing reforms aimed at strengthening the security and integrity of its examinations.
Alausa said the widespread leakage of examination questions reflected how deeply malpractice had become entrenched in the education system, warning that it could disadvantage students who prepare honestly for examinations.
“The danger was that the good students would also become bad,” he said.
The minister urged parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students to support government efforts to restore integrity to public examinations.
Meanwhile, NECO has continued to expand its international operations, conducting examinations in at least eight countries and providing Nigerian curriculum-based examinations for schools and candidates in the diaspora.
The council, which recently marked its 25th anniversary, said its examinations have impacted almost 35 million Nigerians since its establishment.
Wushishi has repeatedly pledged to deepen NECO’s investment in technology, human capital and institutional processes while strengthening fairness, credibility and integrity in examination administration.
The Federal Government also believes measures such as the serial numbering of examination question papers will further reduce the risk of question-paper leakages before examinations.
