The National Examinations Council (NECO) has recorded a 58.67 percent pass rate in its 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination
The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination, with 804,948 candidates obtaining at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
The figure represents 58.67 per cent of the candidates who sat for the examination and marks a decline from the 60.26 per cent recorded in the 2025 examination.
The results were announced on Thursday, September 24, 2026, by the NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Wushishi, during a press briefing at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
According to figures presented by the council, 1,378,048 candidates registered for the 2026 SSCE Internal examination, while 1,371,992 eventually sat for the examination.
The examination was conducted from June 15 to July 23, 2026, across Nigeria and selected international centres. The marking exercise was subsequently conducted between August 17 and September 4.
NECO pass rate falls from 2025 figure
The 2026 results show a decline in the number and proportion of candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
In 2025, a total of 818,492 candidates, representing 60.26 per cent, met the same five-credit benchmark. In 2026, the figure fell to 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent.
This means the proportion declined by 2.64 percentage points compared with the previous year.
The difference is also reflected in the number of candidates meeting the benchmark. There were 13,544 fewer candidates who obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, in 2026 than in 2025.
However, the broader five-credit performance figure was considerably higher when English Language and Mathematics were excluded from the requirement.
NECO reported that 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent of those who sat for the examination, obtained five credits and above irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
The figures therefore show a substantial difference between candidates who achieved five credits generally and those who met the additional requirement of having credits in both English Language and Mathematics.
More than 1.37 million candidates sat for the examination
The 2026 NECO SSCE attracted 1,378,048 registered candidates, comprising 682,352 males and 695,696 females.
Of that number, 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for the examination. The candidates included 678,903 males and 693,089 females.
The examination was held across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. NECO also conducted the examination in six foreign countries, namely Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Saudi Arabia.
NECO said the 2026 examination results were released 63 days after the final paper was written.
The council’s explanation for the timing comes against the backdrop of the marking, verification and quality assurance processes carried out after the examination.
Examination malpractice drops sharply
One of the major developments highlighted by NECO in the 2026 results was the significant reduction in examination malpractice.
The council reported that 1,406 candidates were involved in various forms of examination malpractice during the 2026 examination.
That figure compares with 3,878 candidates recorded in 2025.
According to NECO, the difference represents a 64.74 per cent reduction in reported examination malpractice cases.
The Registrar attributed the reduction to measures adopted by the council to strengthen examination monitoring and improve the integrity of the examination process.
He also acknowledged the role of security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services, in supporting the examination.
According to the council, the presence and vigilance of the security agencies helped reinforce discipline and deter examination-related offences.
NECO has also pointed to the increased use of technology and computer-based examination processes as part of the measures being adopted to strengthen the conduct of its examinations.
Southwest records highest overall zone share
The results also provided a breakdown of performance across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to figures announced by NECO, the Southwest recorded the highest share in the overall performance category for candidates who obtained five credits and above irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
The Southwest accounted for 24.60 per cent, followed by the Northwest with 22.10 per cent.
The North Central recorded 19.00 per cent, while the Northeast accounted for 14.70 per cent.
The South-South recorded 10.53 per cent, while the Southeast accounted for 9.07 per cent.
At the state level, Kano recorded the highest number of candidates who obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, with 74,413 candidates.
Lagos followed with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo ranked third with 55,543 candidates meeting the same benchmark.
Candidates with special needs also participated
NECO also disclosed that candidates with special needs participated in the 2026 examination.
The council reported that 1,334 candidates with special needs took part in the examination, including candidates with hearing and visual impairments, albinism, autism, low vision and other specified conditions.
The inclusion of these candidates forms part of NECO’s broader examination arrangements aimed at allowing eligible candidates with special needs to participate in the national examination.
What the 2026 figures show
The 2026 NECO results present two notable developments.
The first is the decline in the proportion of candidates who secured five credits including English Language and Mathematics, falling from 60.26 per cent in 2025 to 58.67 per cent in 2026.
The second is the sharp reduction in reported examination malpractice, with the number of candidates involved falling from 3,878 to 1,406.
While the overall pass rate declined, the percentage of candidates who obtained five credits and above without the English Language and Mathematics requirement stood at 84.70 per cent.
NECO’s figures therefore provide separate measures of candidate performance rather than a single pass rate for the entire examination.
The distinction is important because obtaining five credits generally is not the same benchmark as obtaining five credits that specifically include both English Language and Mathematics.
The council has continued to emphasise the importance of maintaining the credibility of its examinations as candidates use the results for further education and other academic purposes.
How to Check the 2026 NECO SSCE Results
Candidates who participated in the 2026 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination can now access their results online.
NECO has confirmed that candidates can check their results through the council’s official result-checking platform using their examination details. Reports published following the release of the results also confirmed that the result portal is available to candidates.
Candidates should carefully enter their examination details when checking their results and ensure that the information supplied corresponds with the details used during registration.
The release comes 63 days after the final paper of the 2026 examination was written. The examination itself ran from June 15 to July 23, while the nationwide marking exercise took place from August 17 to September 4, 2026.
What the 58.67% NECO Pass Rate Means
The 58.67 per cent figure represents candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
A total of 804,948 candidates met this benchmark out of the 1,371,992 candidates who sat for the examination.
The figure is lower than the 2025 result, when 818,492 candidates, representing 60.26 per cent, obtained at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics.
That puts the year-on-year decline at 2.64 percentage points.
However, the headline pass-rate figure does not represent all candidates who obtained five credits.
NECO said 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent of those who sat for the examination, obtained five credits and above regardless of whether English Language and Mathematics were included among their credits.
The two figures therefore measure different things.
The 84.70 per cent figure covers candidates who obtained five credits and above generally, while the 58.67 per cent figure applies the additional requirement that the credits include English Language and Mathematics.
The state-level results also produced notable figures.
Kano recorded the highest number of candidates who obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics, with 74,413 candidates.
Lagos followed with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo recorded 55,543 candidates meeting the same benchmark.
The figures provide a state-by-state view of the 2026 examination and form part of the statistical information released alongside the results.
NECO said detailed state, geopolitical-zone and gender rankings were contained in the statistical tables accompanying the examination results.
At the geopolitical-zone level, the Southwest recorded the highest share based on candidates who obtained five credits and above irrespective of their performance in English Language and Mathematics.
The Southwest accounted for 24.60 per cent of the overall figure.
It was followed by the Northwest with 22.10 per cent, North Central with 19.00 per cent and Northeast with 14.70 per cent.
The South-South accounted for 10.53 per cent, while the Southeast recorded 9.07 per cent.
NECO also provided separate classifications for performance based on whether candidates obtained credits in English Language and Mathematics, as well as gender-based rankings.
The 2026 NECO SSCE Internal examination was conducted across all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
The examination was also conducted in six foreign countries: Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Saudi Arabia.
A total of 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination.
The registration figure consisted of 682,352 male candidates and 695,696 female candidates.
Of the registered candidates, 1,371,992 eventually sat for the examination. That means 6,056 registered candidates did not ultimately sit for the examination.
NECO Reports 64.74% Drop in Examination Malpractice
One of the most significant statistics from the 2026 examination concerns examination malpractice.
NECO reported that 1,406 candidates were involved in various forms of examination malpractice during the 2026 examination.
This compares with 3,878 candidates recorded in 2025.
The difference represents a 64.74 per cent reduction in reported malpractice cases.
NECO Registrar Professor Dantani Wushishi attributed the reduction to improved examination processes, stronger monitoring and collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders.
He specifically acknowledged the role of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services in supporting the examination process.
According to NECO, the involvement of the security agencies helped reinforce discipline and deter examination-related offences.
The 2026 examination also included candidates with special needs.
NECO disclosed that 1,334 candidates with special needs participated in the examination.
The council said it continued to make provisions aimed at ensuring that eligible candidates with special needs could participate in the national examination.
The figure forms part of NECO’s broader reporting on participation in the 2026 SSCE Internal examination.
The major figures from the 2026 NECO SSCE Internal examination are:
Candidates registered: 1,378,048
Candidates who sat for the examination: 1,371,992
Candidates with five credits and above, including English and Mathematics: 804,948
Percentage meeting that benchmark: 58.67%
Candidates with five credits and above irrespective of English and Mathematics: 1,162,118
Percentage under that broader benchmark: 84.70%
2025 figure for five credits including English and Mathematics: 818,492 candidates
2025 percentage: 60.26%
Reported malpractice cases in 2026: 1,406
Reported malpractice cases in 2025: 3,878
Reduction in malpractice: 64.74%
Candidates with special needs: 1,334
Examination period: June 15 to July 23, 2026
Marking period: August 17 to September 4, 2026
With the 2026 NECO results now released, candidates can proceed to use their results for the next stage of their academic plans, subject to the admission and examination requirements of the institutions or programmes they intend to pursue.
Candidates whose results do not meet their intended requirements may need to review their individual subject grades and consider the options available to them under the relevant examination and admission rules.
For all candidates, the immediate priority is to obtain and carefully review the complete result rather than relying only on the overall national pass-rate figure.
The 2026 NECO results show a mixed picture. The proportion of candidates meeting the five-credit benchmark that includes English Language and Mathematics fell compared with 2025, while the number of reported examination malpractice cases recorded a substantial decline.
The results also show that a much larger proportion of candidates, 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above when English Language and Mathematics were not made part of the five-credit requirement.
NECO said it would continue to strengthen its examination processes and maintain the credibility and integrity of its assessments.
