The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that it will fully migrate from the traditional Pen and Paper Test (PPT) to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) beginning with the November/December 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External.
TIMES OF NIGERIA gathered from NECO’s official notice, published in the Daily Sun, that the Council is inviting qualified operators of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the country to apply for accreditation.
The move, officials say, is aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and credibility in the nation’s examination system.
According to the guidelines, prospective centres must provide a minimum of 150 functional computer systems with at least 15 backups, all meeting specified hardware and software requirements.
The systems must be linked via a Local Area Network (LAN) and supported by an uninterrupted power supply, gigabit switches, and a robust server capable of handling all machines concurrently.
The Council further stipulates strict hall requirements, including individual cubicles that are not less than 26 inches in length, 18 inches in breadth, and 18 inches in height, alongside adequate seating, CCTV surveillance, functional air conditioning, and standby network coverage.
Wireless CCTV will not be permitted, and all cabling must be properly trunked to prevent exposure.
Security and reliability are also at the heart of the requirements.
Each centre must be fenced, equipped with back-up power of at least 40kVA, and staffed by qualified personnel, including two technical experts and one network engineer.
NECO emphasised that examination staff must be men and women of “high integrity that can ensure the credibility of the examination process.”
Interested operators are required to download the full requirements and application form from NECO’s official portal via https://cbe.neco.gov.ng
Successful applicants will undergo inspection and accreditation before approval.
The notice was signed by NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, who assured stakeholders that the transition would “raise standards and restore confidence in Nigeria’s examination system.”
