The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that it will fully phase out the traditional paper-pencil method of conducting examinations, beginning with the November/December 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External.
According to the Council, all candidates for the exam will henceforth take their tests through a Computer-Based Examination (CBE) system, marking a historic transition in Nigeria’s secondary school examination process.
This move aligns with the Federal Government’s earlier directive in July that privately-owned Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and those belonging to public institutions would be deployed for the conduct of the school-based SSCE by 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NECO said it had concluded all necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth transition and has begun inviting qualified CBT centre operators nationwide to apply for registration. The Council stressed that applications will be subject to strict compliance with technical, infrastructural, and security standards.
Among the key requirements, each approved centre must have at least 150 functional computer systems with 10 percent backups, robust servers capable of supporting concurrent usage, air-conditioned halls, individual cubicles, and prescribed CCTV surveillance with IP cameras.
The Council also mandated that wireless connections and makeshift centres will not be allowed, adding that all centres must operate as dedicated CBT facilities year-round.
On connectivity, NECO specified that only centres with strong MTN or Airtel network signals would be considered, while every examination hall must provide visible wall clocks since candidates will no longer be allowed to bring in wristwatches.
To safeguard the integrity of the process, the Council insisted on hiring personnel of proven moral standing. “The CBE centre personnel (including technical staff) should be dependable and trustworthy.
They are to be men of high integrity that can ensure the credibility of the examination process,” the statement read.
Furthermore, centres must provide backup power supply, including a minimum 40kva generator and UPS/inverters capable of sustaining systems for at least three hours, as well as adequate internal toilets, holding rooms for candidates, fenced premises, and sufficient security personnel.
NECO emphasized that the full computerization of its examinations would not only enhance efficiency and reduce malpractice but also align Nigeria’s examination practices with global standards.
