By Angela Udende
MINNA, Niger State — September 24, 2026
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal results, with 804,948 candidates representing 58.67% of the candidates who sat for the exam securing five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
Announcing the outcome on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at NECO’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, said the release followed a nationwide assessment conducted across Nigeria and in selected foreign centres.
Candidates, Registration Figures and Overall Participation
NECO disclosed that 1,378,048 candidates were registered for the 2026 SSCE Internal, comprising 682,352 males and 695,696 females. Of this number, 1,371,992 candidates ultimately sat for the examination.
Wushishi further stated that 1,162,118 candidates — accounting for 84.70% — obtained five credits and above in total, irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.
Exam Timeline: From June Sitting to September Marking
The examination was conducted from June 15 to July 23, 2026, while NECO said the marking of scripts for the 2026 SSCE Internal took place through a nationwide process from August 17 to September 4, 2026.
Nationwide and International Coverage
According to the NECO boss, the 2026 examination was carried out across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as in six foreign countries: Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Saudi Arabia.
Examination Malpractice: Reduced Cases Compared to 2025
Addressing concerns on integrity, Professor Wushishi revealed that 1,406 candidates were implicated in various forms of examination malpractice in 2026.
He noted that this figure marks a significant improvement when compared with 3,878 candidates recorded for the same category in 2025, representing a 64.74% decrease.
The NECO Registrar attributed the reduction to enhanced examination processes, tighter monitoring, and strengthened collaboration with security agencies and other key stakeholders aimed at safeguarding the credibility of the examination system.
Special Needs Candidates Included in 2026 Conduct
NECO also confirmed that 1,334 candidates with special needs took part in the examination, adding that the Council continued to make provisions to ensure inclusive participation throughout the assessment process.
How Candidates Can Access Results
Professor Wushishi formally declared the 2026 SSCE Internal results released, urging candidates to retrieve their results on the NECO website using their examination registration numbers.
He also encouraged students to remain focused on their studies and reassured stakeholders that NECO will continue to uphold the fairness, credibility, and integrity of its examinations.
Stakeholders Thanked for Support
In his remarks, the NECO boss expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education, the NECO Governing Board, the National Assembly, security agencies, state governments, educational institutions, and other stakeholders for their support.
He particularly commended NECO staff for their dedication and commitment to ensuring a successful examination cycle—from conduct and marking to the release of results.
With 58.67% achieving five credits and above including English and Mathematics, NECO’s release of the 2026 SSCE Internal results marks a significant milestone for candidates nationwide and abroad. The Council also cited improvements in malpractice controls, alongside inclusive arrangements for special needs candidates, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s secondary education assessment system.
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