NECO results show slight national decline as Abia leads state rankings
A Premium Times analysis of NECO’s 2026 state-by-state data found that 58.67 per cent of candidates secured at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, down from 60.26 per cent in 2025. Abia recorded the highest state pass rate, while Sokoto ranked lowest.
Performance in Nigeria’s 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination declined slightly from the previous year, with 58.67 per cent of candidates meeting the benchmark for five credits including English Language and Mathematics, according to NECO data analysed by Premium Times. The National Examinations Council said 1,378,048 candidates registered for the examination, while 1,371,992 sat for it. Of those who took the examination, 804,948 obtained the required five credits, leaving 567,044 candidates, or 41.33 per cent, below the benchmark.
The 2026 pass rate compares with 60.26 per cent recorded in 2025. NECO Registrar Dantani Wushishi announced the results in Minna, Niger State, last week. Premium Times said its state ranking was based on the proportion of candidates meeting the five-credit requirement, rather than the absolute number of successful candidates.
Nineteen of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory performed above the national average of 60.13 per cent used in the analysis. Abia led the state rankings for the second consecutive year, with 81.78 per cent of candidates reaching the benchmark. Ebonyi followed with 81.03 per cent, while Ekiti placed third at 77.68 per cent, rising from 10th position in 2025.
Lagos ranked sixth by percentage. Of its 97,771 candidates, 72,496 passed, representing 74.15 per cent. Oyo, Imo, Bayelsa and Ogun also appeared in the top 10, with pass rates ranging from 73.34 to 74.12 per cent.
Sokoto recorded the lowest rate at 26.82 per cent. Jigawa stood at 48.95 per cent and the FCT at 46.18 per cent. Kano, which had the largest candidate population at 162,302, ranked 31st, with 45.85 per cent meeting the benchmark.
NECO also reported that cases of examination malpractice fell from 3,878 in 2025 to 1,406 in 2026.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.