The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has alleged that some NECO examination questions sold for as little as ₦3,000 before candidates sat for the papers.
Alausa made the disclosure on Thursday at a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other education stakeholders.
He described the level of examination malpractice in Nigeria as “mind-boggling”. He also warned against practices that threaten the credibility of public examinations.
Alausa speaks on NECO question sales
Alausa said examination malpractice had become deeply rooted in Nigeria over the years.
He said the practice created an unfair system for students who prepared honestly. According to him, such students could lose out to candidates who obtained questions before the exams.
The minister also warned about the effect on honest students. He said some could eventually turn to malpractice just to compete with others.
“It’s sad. Before she and I 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.
Alausa recalled an incident involving former NECO Registrar Ibrahim Wushishi.
He said some people used the registrar’s name to find a website where they could obtain examination questions.
“They bought his question for N3,000,” Alausa said. He added that they bought the questions before the examination.
The minister said the incident showed how easily candidates could gain access to examination materials before the scheduled papers.
2025 examination questions also leaked
Alausa also recalled what he described as a difficult experience during the 2025 examination period.
He said people repeatedly sent him examination questions before candidates sat for the papers.
The minister said officials then checked some of the questions with examination authorities. In some cases, they confirmed that the leaked materials matched the questions scheduled for that day.
He said the materials included questions from subjects such as English and Chemistry.
Alausa said the experience showed that examination malpractice goes beyond students. He said the wider education system must also take responsibility.
“You might be in that isolated school, but the school system is also involved,” he said.
The minister identified parents, schools, teachers, principals and invigilators as key players in the fight against examination malpractice.
He also warned that widespread malpractice could pressure honest students into cheating.
FG introduces tighter examination measures
The Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, urged private school proprietors to support the government’s reforms.
Ahmad said the government had introduced serialised examination questions to make leakages more difficult.
Under the system, candidates will receive different arrangements of examination questions. The measure aims to reduce opportunities for cheating and collusion.
Ahmad said the new controls could initially expose gaps in students’ preparation. This could happen among candidates who had become used to leaked questions.
She urged schools to complete their curricula on schedule. She also encouraged students to study consistently before their examinations.
The minister assured private education stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to engage them during the reforms.
The Federal Government has continued to strengthen examination controls. Its measures target question leakages, cheating and other forms of malpractice.
The government says the reforms will help restore confidence in Nigeria’s public examination system and protect students who prepare and compete honestly.
