The Federal Government has rolled out a tough new policy aimed at eradicating examination malpractice in Nigeria. Any student found guilty of cheating during national examinations will now face a three-year ban from participating in any external examinations organized by key bodies such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
This sweeping decision was revealed in an official circular dated May 27, 2025, and signed by JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin. According to the document, the directive was issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in accordance with Sections 5(1)(c)(iv) and 6 of the JAMB Act. The directive is designed to strengthen the credibility of national examinations and to end the thriving culture of so-called “miracle centres” that aid and abet cheating.
A Unified Sanction System Across Exam Bodies
The circular outlines a firm position against students caught in any form of examination misconduct. The new policy stipulates that such candidates “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 NIN.”
The use of the National Identification Number (NIN) as an enforcement mechanism adds a new level of surveillance and accountability. Since the NIN is mandatory for all examination candidates, it provides a unique and trackable identifier, ensuring that banned individuals cannot simply register under different names or credentials to bypass penalties.
According to the Ministry of Education, this stringent approach will serve as a strong deterrent to both students and their guardians, dissuading them from considering malpractice as an option. The government’s goal is not just punitive but also restorative—aiming to rebuild the trust and integrity in the country’s examination system, which has been severely compromised over the years.
Crackdown on Miracle Centres and Complicit CBT Centres
The new policy also targets schools and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres found guilty of facilitating cheating or operating as miracle centres—facilities notorious for assisting candidates in exam malpractice. The circular clearly states that such institutions “should be derecognised for a number of years,” with the length of the penalty determined by the specific examination body involved.
A particularly important clause in the directive states that if one examination body derecognises a school or CBT centre for malpractice, all other national examination agencies must follow suit. These concurrent sanctions across the board are expected to send a powerful message to operators of these fraudulent centres that collusion will no longer be tolerated.
Legal Backing and Inter-agency Coordination
The federal government’s directive is grounded in Section 16(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act. This legal provision empowers exam bodies to withdraw recognition from centres involved in malpractice and to share this information across other exam authorities for coordinated action.
The circular encourages exam bodies like JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB to work in close coordination, ensuring that sanctions are uniformly applied and no entity can serve as a loophole for previously sanctioned institutions or individuals.
JAMB further emphasized the importance of joint investigations and data sharing. They reiterated that names of blacklisted schools and CBT centres must be circulated among all agencies to prevent inconsistencies in enforcement. This united front, backed by law, is expected to significantly reduce the incidence of examination malpractice in Nigeria.
Investigations and Sanctions Already Underway
The announcement comes just weeks after JAMB revealed a troubling update on malpractice trends in its 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). According to a statistical update released on May 5, 2025, out of the 1.95 million candidates who took the UTME, 97 were found to be directly involved in exam infractions, while another 2,157 remain under investigation for suspected violations.
JAMB noted that it is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to probe several CBT centres suspected of violating operational standards and assisting candidates in cheating. The Board issued a stern warning, stating that implicated centres will not receive their contractual payments and that it retains the right to recover funds already disbursed, potentially through legal action.
Already, the examination body has made a part-payment of over N3 billion to accredited centres for their role in conducting the 2025 UTME. However, this financial arrangement remains conditional on compliance with all regulatory guidelines. Any deviation, JAMB stressed, could result in payment reversals and legal prosecution.
Government’s Long-Term Vision for Exam Integrity
The implementation of this three-year ban and the derecognition of complicit institutions represent the government’s broader strategy to sanitize the education sector. Nigeria has long struggled with rampant examination fraud, often perpetuated by an ecosystem of corrupt school officials, miracle centres, and desperate candidates seeking unfair advantages.
For years, miracle centres have thrived by promising guaranteed success in national examinations, frequently in exchange for bribes or illicit fees. These centres typically operate with the assistance of compromised invigilators and school administrators, undermining the sanctity of Nigeria’s educational assessment system.
By introducing a uniform and NIN-based ban, the government intends to choke off this illicit ecosystem at its root. Moreover, by holding institutions accountable alongside students, the policy ensures that there is no safe haven for malpractice to flourish.
Public and Institutional Response
The announcement has sparked a mix of praise and concern across Nigeria’s educational landscape. While many education stakeholders have lauded the move as long overdue, some parents and school administrators have raised concerns about the possibility of wrongful accusations and the fairness of a blanket three-year ban without clear appeals processes.
JAMB, in response, reassured the public that all investigations will follow due process and that no student or institution will be penalized without sufficient evidence. The examination board also highlighted the ongoing training and monitoring of invigilators and CBT centre operators to prevent incidents of mistaken identity or procedural abuse.
What Lies Ahead
The success of this policy will largely depend on consistent enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, and public awareness. With the NIN system in place, the tools for enforcement are available, but long-term success will require political will and continuous oversight.
If fully implemented and upheld, the directive has the potential to fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s examination landscape. It could deter malpractice, promote a merit-based academic culture, and enhance the global credibility of Nigeria’s education system—a goal the government appears increasingly committed to achieving.
