The Kwara State Government has commenced registration for the 2026 National Examination Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, unveiling measures aimed at transparency, coordination and zero tolerance for examination malpractice.
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, announced this on Monday during the official flag-off ceremony for the registration exercise across public secondary schools in the state.
Dr Olohungbebe commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for sustained investment in education infrastructure, noting that ongoing classroom construction and rehabilitation across the three senatorial districts have improved learning environments and enhanced readiness for external examinations.
He announced that the approved cost per candidate is ₦33,500, covering NECO examination fees, e-registration and administrative charges, and warned school principals against imposing unauthorised levies.
According to him, the NECO fee is ₦30,000, e-registration costs ₦1,500, while administrative charges amount to ₦2,000, stressing that strict compliance is mandatory throughout the registration process.
The commissioner reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on examination malpractice, stating that principals will be held accountable for any irregularities before, during or after the 2026 NECO SSCE.
He urged teachers, parents and education officials to work together to uphold ethical standards and safeguard students’ interests to ensure a smooth and credible exercise statewide.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Olanrewaju Rebecca Bake, cautioned principals against actions that could undermine the integrity of the examination, urging them to resist undue influence from parents or other stakeholders.
The state President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Comrade Baba Saliu, pledged the commitment of principals to full compliance and effective supervision, while the Principal of Ilofa Grammar School, Pastor Ajayi Olatubosun, said recent infrastructure projects across 16 local government areas are already improving examination preparedness.
