The 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results administered by the National Examinations Council (NECO) have shown a slight decline in candidates' performance compared to last year. According to NECO Registrar, Dantani Wushishi, 58.67% of candidates who sat the examination obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics. This translates to 804,948 candidates out of 1,371,992 who sat for the examination.
The ranking of states is based on the proportion of candidates in each state who obtained at least five credits, including English and Mathematics. A total of 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) performed above the national average of 60.13%. The remaining 18 states fell below the average rate. To secure admission in Nigerian tertiary institutions, candidates are required to secure at least a credit in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
Abia State recorded the highest percentage of candidates who passed, emerging as the best-performing state for the second consecutive year. A total of 81.78% of candidates who sat the examination in Abia met the five-credit benchmark. Ebonyi State followed closely with 81.03%, while Ekiti ranked third with 77.68%. Ekiti moved up from 10th place last year with a 68.50% pass rate to third place this year.
Lagos, which had the second-largest number of candidates in the examination, ranked sixth by percentage, with 72,496 of its 97,771 candidates meeting the benchmark, representing 74.15%. Oyo, Imo, and Bayelsa followed closely, recording 74.12%, 74.10%, and 73.92% respectively. Ogun State completed the top 10, with 73.34%.
At the bottom of the table is Sokoto State, which emerged as the lowest-performing state with only a 26.82% pass rate. Jigawa State recorded a 48.95% pass rate, while the FCT recorded 46.18%. Kano, with the largest number of candidates in the examination, is ranked 31st by percentage. Only 74,413 or 45.85% of its 162,302 candidates passed with five credits, including English and Mathematics.
Compared to the 2025 performance, where 60.26% of candidates passed, this year's results show a slight decline. However, the examination body noted that candidates involved in examination malpractice fell from 3,878 in 2025 to 1,406 in 2026. This represents a significant decrease in malpractice cases.
The NECO results have implications for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions. With 567,044 or 41.33% of candidates who sat this year's NECO not meeting the benchmark, it is clear that many students will face challenges in securing admission. The results also highlight the need for improvement in the education sector, particularly in states with low pass rates.
Key points
- - Only 19 of Nigeria's 36 states and FCT performed above the national average of 60.13% in the 2026 NECO SSCE. - Abia State emerged as the best-performing state for the second consecutive year with 81.78% pass rate. - Sokoto State was the lowest-performing state with a 26.82% pass rate.
