The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over examination malpractice after the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, revealed that some National Examinations Council questions were allegedly obtained and sold for as little as N3,000 before candidates sat for the examinations.
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Alausa made the disclosure in Abuja while meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other stakeholders in the education sector.
The minister described the scale of examination malpractice in Nigeria as “mind boggling”, warning that the practice had created an unfair system in which students who prepared diligently could be disadvantaged by those who gained access to examination materials illegally.
According to Alausa, officials had previously encountered situations where examination questions circulating before the scheduled papers were verified and found to correspond with the questions candidates were expected to answer that day.
The revelation has renewed the debate over the integrity of public examinations and the measures required to protect students who depend on genuine preparation and hard work.
Alausa stressed that examination malpractice should not be regarded as a problem caused only by students. He identified parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and other adults as important stakeholders whose actions can either encourage or prevent malpractice.
He said the Federal Government was determined to strengthen the examination system and close loopholes that allow question leakages and other forms of cheating to thrive.
The minister also warned that allowing malpractice to continue would damage public confidence in Nigerian certificates and undermine the credibility of the country’s education system.
The government’s renewed campaign places responsibility on the entire education community to ensure that examination results reflect candidates’ genuine knowledge and abilities.
For thousands of Nigerian students preparing for major examinations, the message is clear: academic success must increasingly depend on preparation and merit rather than access to leaked examination materials.
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