Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal, with 58.67 per cent of candidates securing at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics.
NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Wushishi, announced the results on Thursday, September 24, 2026, in Minna, Niger State, bringing to an end the waiting period for thousands of candidates who sat for the June/July examination.
According to reports on the result announcement, 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, while 1,371,992 eventually sat for the exercise.
The examination was conducted nationwide from June 15 to July 23, 2026. It was also conducted in six foreign countries — Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Saudi Arabia.
58.67% Secure Five Credits Including English and Mathematics
NECO reported that 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent of those who sat for the examination, obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics.
The figure is particularly significant because the five-credit benchmark including the two subjects is commonly relevant to candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
However, when English Language and Mathematics were not used as compulsory components of the benchmark, the number was substantially higher.
According to the reported figures from NECO, 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
The distinction between the two figures is important because it provides a clearer picture of overall examination performance while also showing the proportion meeting the specific five-credit threshold that includes the two core subjects.
Examination Malpractice Declines
The examination council also reported a substantial reduction in examination malpractice during the 2026 SSCE.
Professor Wushishi said 1,406 candidates were involved in various forms of examination malpractice in 2026, compared with 3,878 candidates recorded in 2025.
Based on the figures announced by the council, this represents a 64.74 per cent reduction in the number of candidates involved in malpractice compared with the previous year.
The reported decline comes amid continued efforts by examination authorities and security agencies to strengthen examination integrity and prevent cheating.
Wushishi commended security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), for their presence and support during the examination.
2026 Examination Covered More Than 1.3 Million Candidates
The 2026 SSCE Internal examination attracted more than 1.37 million candidates who eventually sat for the exercise.
The examination covered students completing their senior secondary education and included subjects across sciences, humanities, languages, vocational areas and technical disciplines.
The official NECO examination timetable confirms that the examination ran from June 15 to July 23, 2026.
The results were announced after the completion of the examination, marking exercise and the administrative processes required before publication.
NECO had previously indicated that the results were expected around the first week of September or earlier, but the eventual official announcement came on September 24.
What the Results Mean for Candidates
The release of the 2026 NECO results is expected to be important for students preparing to pursue further education.
Candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions can use their examination results as part of the admission process, subject to the requirements of their chosen institutions and programmes.
The results may also be important for students applying for scholarships, vocational programmes and other opportunities that require evidence of secondary school academic qualifications.
Candidates who have been waiting for their results can now proceed to check their individual performance through NECO’s official result-checking platform.
The NECO results portal requires candidates to select the examination year and examination type, then provide their registration number and result-checking token.
How to Check the 2026 NECO Result
Candidates can check their results through the official NECO results portal.
They will generally need:
- Their examination year.
- The examination type.
- Their registration number.
- A NECO result-checking token.
Candidates should use the official NECO platform and avoid unofficial websites requesting sensitive personal or payment information.
NECO’s Focus on Examination Integrity
The reduction in reported malpractice is one of the notable features of the 2026 examination results.
NECO has continued to emphasise the importance of maintaining the credibility of its examinations, particularly as examination results play a major role in determining students’ progression to higher education and other opportunities.
The council credited the involvement of security agencies with helping to maintain discipline and deter examination malpractice during the 2026 exercise.
At the same time, the results provide another opportunity for students, schools, parents and education authorities to examine performance across the country’s secondary education system.
What Happens Next
With the 2026 SSCE Internal results released, candidates can begin using their results for relevant admission and educational applications.
Students who encounter problems while checking their results should rely on NECO’s official channels for assistance rather than unofficial platforms.
The release also marks the next stage in the academic journey of more than one million candidates who participated in this year’s examination.
For candidates who obtained the required credits, the focus will now shift toward tertiary education, vocational training or other post-secondary opportunities.
For those who did not obtain the results they expected, the individual grades and applicable examination or admission rules will determine the options available to them.
The 2026 NECO results therefore provide both an immediate academic record for candidates and a broader snapshot of performance in Nigeria’s senior secondary examination system.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- National Examinations Council (NECO) — 2026 SSCE Internal examination timetable and official result-checking portal.
- Channels Television — report on the release of the 2026 NECO SSCE results and examination statistics.
- The Drum Reporter — report of Professor Dantani Wushishi’s announcement and the 2026 result figures.
- Punch — advance report on the scheduled September 24 release of the 2026 SSCE Internal results.
