NECO releases 2025 SSCE external results, decries rise in malpractice

More than seven in ten candidates who sat the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External recorded the minimum requirement for tertiary admission, as the National Examinations Council (NECO) on Wednesday published the results nationwide.

Speaking at a press briefing at NECO’s headquarters in Minna, the Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim-Wushishi, said 71.63 per cent of candidates achieved five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The registrar explained that the examination, which offers a second chance to candidates seeking admission into higher institutions within and outside Nigeria, was written between 26 November and 13 December 2025.

He noted that marking was completed by 21 January 2026, with results released 52 days after the final paper.

A total of 96,979 candidates registered for the examination, comprising 51,823 males (53.43 per cent) and 45,156 females (46.56 per cent). Of this number, 95,160 candidates eventually sat for the papers.

Providing a subject-by-subject breakdown, Ibrahim-Wushishi said 78.32 per cent of the 93,425 candidates who wrote English Language obtained credit and above, while 91.35 per cent of the 93,330 candidates who sat for Mathematics achieved the same grade.

He added that 82,082 candidates, representing 86.26 per cent, secured five credits and above regardless of English and Mathematics.

Describing the release as another step in NECO’s mandate to ensure credible assessment, the registrar said the SSCE External covered 16 subjects and remained a vital pathway for candidates seeking academic progression.

However, the exercise was not without challenges. Ibrahim-Wushishi disclosed that 9,016 candidates were booked for various examination offences, a 31.7 per cent increase from the 6,160 cases recorded in 2024.

He added that five supervisors were recommended for blacklisting for aiding malpractice, noting that two were from the Federal Capital Territory, while others were from Kano, Adamawa and Ondo states.

In addition, four examination centres were recommended for de-recognition over whole-centre malpractice, with two located in Niger State, and one each in Yobe and Kano states.

The registrar advised candidates to access their results via NECO’s official website using their registration numbers.

He also announced the release of the 2026 Automated Staff Posting Calendar (APC), explaining that postings would now be randomised and accessible online by staff using their date of birth and file number.