The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to establish a National Examination Malpractice Court to fast-track the prosecution of individuals involved in exam fraud across the country.

This proposal was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, following the submission of an interim report by a 17-member committee chaired by Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The committee was inaugurated in January 2025 to recommend strategies for improving the quality of examinations and curbing malpractice in Nigeria.

One of the committee’s central recommendations is for the Ministry of Education to engage the National Assembly to enact a law establishing a tribunal dedicated to handling exam malpractice cases swiftly, aiming to deter future offenders.

Dr. Alausa, while receiving the report on Friday, promised full implementation of the committee’s 12-point recommendations, stressing that none of the proposals are impractical.

“All the 12 recommendations you reeled out are practicable. The ones we can implement now will be done immediately,” the Minister said.

Key Recommendations:

• All examination-related documents, including certificates, registration and result slips, must carry the candidate’s National Identification Number (NIN), photograph, and date of birth to curb impersonation.
• Supervisors and invigilators must also register using their NIN and subscribe to a short code system like JAMB’s 55019/66019 to enable traceability and accountability.
• From the 2025 private SSCE, invigilator and supervisor swapping will begin—not candidates—to improve integrity while avoiding logistical and security challenges.
• Only public officials or pensionable teachers will serve as invigilators and supervisors, barring exceptional cases.
• Standard examination hall requirements—including minimum spacing of 1.8 sqm per candidate—must not be compromised.
• All centres are to be fitted with stationary CCTV cameras and a mini control room for real-time monitoring.
• Body camcorders should be deployed for invigilators during exams.
• Candidates will be tracked from primary school using a unique code linked to their NIN, following them throughout their educational journey.
• A review of the 1999 Examination Malpractice Act was recommended due to its poor implementation or impracticality.
• Computer-Based Examinations (CBEs) should commence by 2025 for private exams and fully implemented by 2026 for school candidates.
• The current 30% Continuous Assessment component in SSCE was criticized as a hub for corruption; the committee urged immediate review by NERDC and other relevant bodies.

This move, if implemented, could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against examination fraud—a crisis that has long plagued the nation’s education system.