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 obtaining at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, announced the release on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
Key Performance Figures
According to NECO, 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, while 1,371,992 candidates eventually sat for it.
Of those who sat for the examination:
- 804,948 candidates — 58.67% — obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
- 1,162,118 candidates — 84.70% — obtained five credits and above, irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.
The 58.67 per cent figure represents a 2.64 percentage-point decline from the 60.26 per cent recorded in 2025, when 818,492 candidates achieved five credits including English and Mathematics.
NECO 2026 Results: Performance Breakdown
Category| 2026 Result
Candidates registered| 1,378,048
Candidates who sat| 1,371,992
Five credits incl. English & Mathematics| 804,948 (58.67%)
Five credits irrespective of English & Mathematics| 1,162,118 (84.70%)
Examination malpractice cases| 1,406
Candidates with special needs| 1,334
Malpractice Cases Drop by 64.74%
The examination also recorded a substantial reduction in reported malpractice cases.
NECO said 1,406 candidates were involved in various forms of examination malpractice in 2026, compared with 3,878 candidates in 2025.
This represents a 64.74 per cent reduction in reported cases. The council attributed the decline to measures introduced to strengthen examination security and quality assurance.
Over 1,300 Candidates With Special Needs Participated
NECO also disclosed that 1,334 candidates with special needs participated in the 2026 examination.
The candidates included those with hearing impairment, visual impairment, albinism, autism, low vision and adermatoglyphia.
Why the Results Took 63 Days
The council explained that the results were released 63 days after the conclusion of the examination, following the completion of marking, verification and quality-assurance processes.
NECO described the 2026 examination cycle as one of its more challenging exercises, saying it tested the council’s systems and readiness.
When Was the 2026 NECO Examination Held?
The examination was conducted across Nigeria and in six foreign countries — Benin Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Saudi Arabia.
There is a discrepancy in published reports over the examination end date: Vanguard and NAN-based reporting state July 23, 2026, while Tribune reports September 4, 2026. The 63-day release interval cited by NECO should therefore be treated alongside the council’s official announcement rather than inferred from the conflicting dates.
How Candidates Can Access Their Results
NECO said candidates can access their results through its official result-verification platform using their examination details.
The council’s e-Verify platform allows individuals to verify or generate reports confirming NECO results.
The Big Picture
The 2026 NECO results show that while 84.70 per cent of candidates achieved five credits and above when English Language and Mathematics are not made compulsory, the proportion meeting the more demanding benchmark of five credits including both subjects stood at 58.67 per cent.
At the same time, the council reported a 64.74 per cent decline in examination malpractice cases, highlighting a major change in the conduct of the examination compared with 2025.
