Check How Many Years Punishment FG Imposes on Those Who Cheat in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB Examinations: In a major move to combat exam malpractice in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced a new policy that imposes severe penalties on candidates who cheat during national examinations. Students caught engaging in any form of examination malpractice in WAEC, NECO, JAMB, or NABTEB will now face a three-year ban from participating in any external exams in the country.
This announcement was made in a circular dated May 27, 2025, and signed by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Public Communications Advisor of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The directive came from the office of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and is aligned with Sections 5(1)(c)(iv) and 6 of the JAMB Act. The move is part of a broader national strategy to cleanse the education sector and uphold the sanctity of examinations.
What the New FG Directive Means for Students
Under the new guidelines, any student found guilty of cheating in JAMB, WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB exams will be barred for three years from writing any external examination in Nigeria. This punishment will be enforced using the National Identification Number (NIN) to track offenders across different examination bodies.
According to the circular:
“Students involved in examination malpractice should be barred from sitting for any external examinations in Nigeria such as those conducted by WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, etc., for three years using the instrumentality of the NIN. Such a stringent measure will serve as a deterrent to other students and parents.”
This decision aims to discourage a growing culture of academic dishonesty and to instill a sense of accountability and discipline among secondary school and post-secondary candidates.
Crackdown on Miracle Centres and CBT Centres
The Federal Government’s anti-malpractice policy is not limited to students alone. The directive also targets schools and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres involved in aiding and abetting cheating during examinations. These centres—often referred to as “miracle centres”—have been a major concern in Nigeria’s education sector, offering illegal assistance to candidates in exchange for money.
As part of the new enforcement measures:
- Any school or CBT centre involved in exam malpractice will be derecognised for a period determined by the examination body.
- If one examination body derecognises a centre, all sister bodies like WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and JAMB will be required to also derecognise the same centre for the same number of years.
“If any school or CBT centre is derecognised by any examination body, other sister examination bodies should follow suit and derecognise the same school/CBT centre for the same number of years to run concurrently. This will send a very strong signal to the operators of these miracle centres,” the statement emphasized.
Nigerian Education Data Initiative (NEDI) Launched
To effectively implement this new policy and ensure data consistency across examination bodies, the Federal Government has inaugurated a 25-member committee to launch the Nigerian Education Data Initiative (NEDI). This initiative will harmonize student records, exam history, and disciplinary records using the National Identification Number (NIN).
By integrating this data infrastructure, examination bodies will be able to cross-check candidate information, enforce bans, and flag repeated malpractice offenders more efficiently.
Legal Backing: Examination Malpractices Act
The directive is legally backed by the Examination Malpractices Act, specifically Section 16(2), which empowers examination bodies to withdraw recognition from institutions caught promoting or facilitating cheating. JAMB has emphasized that names of all derecognised centres will be shared across other exam bodies, ensuring coordinated sanctions and preventing such centres from operating under different banners.
This move reflects a strong stance by the government against systemic cheating and sends a message that no institution or individual will be above the law in the Nigerian education system.
Why This Policy Matters
Exam malpractice has long plagued Nigeria’s educational system, tarnishing the credibility of national certificates and creating a false standard of merit. With these new measures:
Students will be more cautious, knowing that the NIN will permanently link them to any exam malpractice.
Schools will no longer take malpractice lightly, especially when it could lead to multi-year bans and loss of accreditation.
The integrity of WAEC, NECO, JAMB, and NABTEB exams will improve, restoring confidence in the system.
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Final Thoughts
This bold move by the Federal Government of Nigeria signals a new era of accountability in the education sector. By combining strict penalties, advanced data tracking through NIN, and a unified approach among examination bodies, the government is setting the stage for a more credible, transparent, and merit-based examination system.
Candidates preparing for JAMB, WAEC, or NECO are strongly advised to avoid any form of malpractice, focus on genuine preparation, and steer clear of miracle centres and illegal shortcuts. The consequences are no longer just cancellation of results – they now include multi-year bans and long-term academic setbacks.
