The National Examinations Council (NECO) has attributed its ability to conduct uninterrupted examinations despite security challenges to the resilience and dedication of its workforce. Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, NECO Registrar, made this statement at the council's 2025 Annual Staff Productivity Award Ceremony in Minna, Niger State. He described NECO's workforce as the "army of NECO" for their commitment to duty despite operating in challenging environments.
Wushishi noted that NECO's responsibilities require personnel to be constantly prepared to perform their duties, regardless of prevailing circumstances. He cited examples of how the council had continued to move examination materials and logistics according to schedule, even during security challenges such as Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and sit-at-home orders. The registrar praised the workforce for their dedication, saying their efforts were similar to those of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The annual productivity awards were instituted to celebrate outstanding individuals and encourage staff to improve their performance and service delivery. The 2025 edition recognised outstanding contributions from staff and stakeholders across different levels of the council. Awards covered retirees, hardworking personnel, zonal directors, state coordinators, and outstanding students. Wushishi said the awards promoted healthy competition and a culture of continuous improvement.
The awards recognised excellence in different areas of operation, including the best-performing male and female candidates in NECO's 2025 examinations. Wushishi described the students as the ultimate beneficiaries of NECO's activities, saying their achievements demonstrated the value of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. The registrar stressed that productivity involved delivering quality results with integrity, timeliness, and measurable impact.
Wushishi urged award recipients to serve as role models to other employees and encouraged all NECO personnel to uphold perseverance, teamwork, unity, and continuous self-development. He acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders to NECO's operations, noting that their cooperation had helped sustain the smooth conduct of examinations across Nigeria and abroad. The registrar congratulated the awardees and retirees, saying their contributions had strengthened NECO's reputation.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, commended NECO for its efforts to strengthen productivity and operational readiness. Garba said the productivity awards were designed to recognise significant contributions by staff and stakeholders, boost morale, and encourage healthy competition. He stressed that credible examinations depended not only on policies but also on the commitment, competence, and integrity of those charged with implementing them.
NECO honoured 55 staff members who retired in 2025, recognising their years of loyalty, dedication, and contributions to the council. The examination body also presented awards to outstanding students, including Akai Bernice Kuyet and Eke Felix Emenike, who emerged as the female and male award recipients in the Senior School Certificate Examination category. The NECO Staff Productivity Awards is an annual programme established to recognise exceptional contributions by council employees and other stakeholders.
Key points
- NECO attributes uninterrupted exams to workforce resilience
- Wushishi praises staff as the "army of NECO"
- NECO honours 55 retirees and outstanding students at award ceremony
