FG orders blacklisting of exam malpractice perpetrators, CBT centres

The Federal Government has issued a strong directive to major examination bodies in the country, mandating them to blacklist both candidates and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres found guilty of examination malpractice. This decisive order aims to restore integrity and credibility to Nigeria’s education system.

The directive was given by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who, speaking in Abuja, instructed 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) to begin strict enforcement of the order with immediate effect.

Dr. Alausa lamented the growing involvement of organized syndicates, school officials, and sometimes even parents, in facilitating cheating during public exams.

He issued a stern warning that all those involved in such acts—whether as facilitators or beneficiaries—would face stiff penalties.

Specifically, candidates found guilty of examination malpractice will be barred from sitting for any external examination in Nigeria for three years, a ban that will be enforced using their National Identification Number (NIN).

As part of the new measures, all examination bodies are to:

• Immediately blacklist any CBT centre, school, or individual found to have aided or allowed malpractice during exams.
• Disqualify and sanction candidates found guilty of cheating.
• Report individuals and centres to the appropriate security agencies for possible prosecution.
• Conduct thorough investigations of suspicious centres before approval or renewal of licenses.
• If any school/CBT centre is derecognized 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.

The directive follows a series of reports highlighting irregularities and unethical practices at some CBT centres, especially during the recent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by JAMB.

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Recent incidents have uncovered advanced forms of malpractice, including the use of spy cameras, impersonators, collusion with centre operators, AI-enabled photo blending, and even the combination of fingerprints from multiple persons for a single candidate’s registration.

The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for digital exams and technological innovations but emphasized that these must go hand in hand with integrity and accountability.

Stakeholders in the education sector have largely welcomed the directive, urging the government to follow through with proper monitoring and enforcement.

Many believe decisive action is long overdue to clean up the system and ensure that students who succeed do so purely on merit.

So far, JAMB and WAEC have expressed readiness to implement the minister’s instructions and step up surveillance ahead of their upcoming examinations.