Students Found Guilty of Malpractices in JAMB Will Be Barred From WAEC, NECO – FG

Students found guilty of engaging in malpractice during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will now face a three-year ban from all national external examinations, including those organized by WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB. 

This directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as part of efforts to curb rising academic dishonesty in Nigeria's education system.

According to Dr. Alausa, the decision is meant to serve as a tough warning to deter students and their parents from indulging in unethical exam practices. 

“Such a stringent measure would serve as a deterrent to other students and parents,” he stated.

The minister issued the directive through an official letter addressed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and other national examination bodies. 

The move is grounded in Sections 5(1)(c)(iv) and 6 of the JAMB Act and aims to address the growing influence of so-called ‘miracle centres’ at the secondary school level.

The announcement follows JAMB’s revelation that widespread malpractices were discovered during the 2025 UTME. 

According to the board, these violations led to the cancellation of certain results and the apprehension of several suspects across the country. 

Some of those arrested have reportedly provided critical information during investigations.

JAMB revealed that over 3,000 candidates across Nigeria have so far been identified as either perpetrators or beneficiaries of advanced forms of exam cheating. 

“As investigation progresses, all candidates implicated in these unwholesome activities will have their results withdrawn as soon as incontrovertible proofs are established, even if the results have been released,” the board said.

Dr Alausa further ordered that any school or CBT centre involved in exam malpractice or linked to miracle centre operations should be sanctioned. 

He directed that such centres be blacklisted for a number of years, with the exact duration to be decided by the relevant exam bodies.

The minister's letter emphasized, “If any school/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 operators of these miracle centres.”

He added that the directive aligns with Section 16(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act, which empowers examination bodies to share the identities of individuals, schools, and centres found guilty of malpractice. 

“An examination body may, in the exercise of its powers under this section, circulate the name of an offending candidates, supervisors, invigilator, official, school, or examination centre to other examination bodies, which may impose similar punishment,” the letter stated.