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The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has revealed that leaked National Examinations Council (NECO) examination questions were allegedly sold for as little as ₦3,000 before candidates sat for their papers, describing the scale of examination malpractice in Nigeria as alarming.
Alausa made the disclosure on Thursday during a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and other education stakeholders, where he called for collective action to end examination fraud.
The minister warned parents, teachers, school proprietors, principals, invigilators and students against engaging in practices that undermine the integrity of public examinations.
He lamented that examination malpractice had become deeply rooted in the education system, creating an unfair environment where diligent students were disadvantaged by candidates with prior access to examination questions.
"It's sad. Before she and I came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare," Alausa said.
Recalling one incident, the minister alleged that examination questions were purchased for just ₦3,000 before the examination.
"They bought his question for ₦3,000. That was it. Before the examination. They called him Wushishi and bought the questions for ₦3,000 before the examination," he stated.
Alausa also recounted his experience during the 2025 examination period, saying leaked examination questions were repeatedly sent to him before scheduled papers.
According to him, officials had to verify the materials with examination bodies, and in some cases confirmed that the leaked questions were genuine.
He stressed that examination malpractice was no longer just a student problem but one involving several actors within the education system.
"But when we have an ecosystem where parents, schools, teachers, invigilators and principals are in full connivance, the students are the smallest players. The people who should put the deterrents in place are the ones involved," he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, urged private school proprietors to support ongoing reforms aimed at curbing examination malpractice.
She explained that the introduction of serialised examination questions would make it more difficult for candidates to rely on leaked materials, while encouraging schools to complete their curricula on schedule and promote consistent study habits among students.
Ahmad assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to engage with them as the reforms are implemented.
