Federal Government Commends Seamless Organisation of 2026 National Common Entrance Examination Taken by More Than 58,000 Candidates Across the Country

The Federal Government has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination, describing it as an orderly, credible, and well-coordinated exercise across the country, according to Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.

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Prof. Ahmad gave this assessment on Saturday after monitoring the examination at Model Secondary School, Maitama; Federal Government Boys College, Apo; and Federal Government Technical College, Garki, all in Abuja, where she commended the National Examinations Council, NECO, for ensuring a hitch-free exercise.

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Speaking to journalists after the inspection, the minister noted that candidates adhered to examination guidelines and officials demonstrated professionalism in the conduct of the examination, adding that she was happy with the conduct of the exams in all three schools she visited.

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She observed that the students were orderly, well-seated, and started the examination on time, and checks on registration records showed that candidates complied with the approved age bracket of 10 to 12 years, reinforcing confidence in the integrity of the admission process into Federal Unity Colleges.

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The minister also praised the adequacy of examination personnel and the conducive environment provided for candidates, stating that the venues were well arranged with proper invigilators and an adequate number of invigilators.

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Despite the positive assessment, Prof. Ahmad expressed concern over the number of registered candidates who failed to appear for the examination, disclosing that officials recorded as many as 18 absent candidates in one examination hall, which she described as a significant figure deserving of further investigation.

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Understanding the reasons behind the absenteeism would be important in improving future participation rates, according to the minister, who also used the occasion to reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure in schools across the country.

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She noted that the schools visited were adequately equipped with furniture and facilities necessary for effective teaching, learning, and examination administration, and that the government was always working to ensure that proper infrastructure was available for these purposes.

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NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed that 58,187 candidates registered for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination, representing a decline from the 64,578 candidates recorded in 2025.

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However, Wushishi highlighted a significant milestone in female participation, revealing that girls accounted for the majority of candidates this year, with female candidates numbering over 31,000, while male candidates were about 26,000.

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This trend demonstrates that government interventions aimed at improving access to education for girls are beginning to yield measurable results, according to the NECO Registrar, who expressed optimism that the smooth conduct witnessed in Abuja would be replicated across all examination centres nationwide.

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The National Common Entrance Examination serves as the gateway for admission into Federal Government Colleges, popularly known as Unity Schools, and remains one of Nigeria’s most competitive examinations for primary school leavers.