NECO Exam Questions Allegedly Sold for N3,000 Before Papers, Education Minister Reveals

The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over examination malpractice after Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, revealed that some NECO examination questions were allegedly leaked and sold to candidates before they sat for the papers.

Alausa made the disclosure on Thursday, September 3, 2026, during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other education stakeholders. He described the scale of examination malpractice he encountered as “mind-boggling”.

The minister said the practice was unfair to students who prepare honestly, warning that early access to examination materials could push even hardworking candidates towards cheating simply to remain competitive.

Recounting one alleged case, Alausa said the name of former NECO Registrar, Ibrahim Wushishi, had become associated with a platform where examination questions could allegedly be obtained before candidates sat for the papers.

“They bought his question for N3,000. That was it. Before the examination. They called him Wushishi and bought the questions for N3,000,” the minister said.

Alausa also recalled his experience during the 2025 examination period, when examination questions allegedly obtained ahead of scheduled papers were repeatedly sent to him. He said some of the materials had to be verified with examination officials before they were confirmed as the actual questions candidates were expected to answer that day.

The minister warned that continued leakage of examination questions could undermine students who refuse to cheat and eventually encourage more candidates to participate in malpractice.

“The danger was that the good students would also become bad,” Alausa said.

He stressed that examination malpractice should not be blamed on students alone, arguing that parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals and invigilators all have roles to play in protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system.