As the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for internal candidates officially commences, the National Examinations Council (NECO) has issued a stern warning to candidates and schools nationwide, re-emphasizing the importance of punctuality and reiterating its zero tolerance for lateness to examination venues.
In an official circular signed by the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, and dated 2nd June 2025, the Council expressed concern over the growing trend of candidates arriving late to examination halls. NECO linked this behavior to attempts by some candidates to perpetrate examination malpractice and engage in unethical activities.
“All candidates sitting for the 2025 NECO SSCE (Internal) are advised to arrive at their centres promptly and at least 30 minutes before the commencement of each paper,” the statement read.
According to the Council, examinations begin at 10:00 a.m. daily, and the initial 30-minute window is strictly designated for validation, attendance marking, and biometric capturing of all candidates.
NECO firmly declared that no candidate will be allowed into the examination hall once a paper has started. Furthermore, candidates will not be permitted to exit the hall until the end of the examination, as part of efforts to ensure the integrity of the testing process.
The memo was officially addressed to principals, proprietors, state commissioners of education, and other key stakeholders within Nigeria’s secondary education system.
The Registrar’s directive, widely circulated to schools and state ministries of education, also urged strict compliance across all centres. “This measure is part of NECO’s broader strategy to curtail examination malpractice and enhance the credibility of its national examinations,” the notice added.
Professor Wushishi assured stakeholders of the Council’s commitment to credible assessment and stressed that candidates must take the guidelines seriously to avoid being denied entry on exam days.
The NECO management also emphasized that the strict adherence to scheduled times is non-negotiable and applies to all centres across Nigeria without exception.
Education observers note that NECO has in recent years intensified its fight against examination malpractice, introducing biometric verification and electronic attendance as part of its reform strategies.
The 2025 SSCE is a major milestone for thousands of Nigerian secondary school students, many of whom are taking the examination as a gateway to university admission and further academic pursuits.
NECO’s latest warning serves as both a disciplinary measure and a call for a more responsible approach from students, school administrators, and examination officers.
With the SSCE underway, NECO has reaffirmed its readiness to monitor compliance closely and apply appropriate sanctions where necessary.
Candidates, schools, and education authorities are now under increased scrutiny as the examination progresses, with NECO urging everyone involved to cooperate in safeguarding the sanctity of Nigeria’s public examinations.
