NECO Warns Against Registration of Candidates By Proxy

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has issued a stern warning to school owners and other stakeholders to desist from registering candidates for its examinations by proxy. This fraudulent practice, according to the Council, can lead to serious consequences, including identity theft and the issuance of fake results.

Registration by proxy is a situation where a candidate’s details are registered by someone else or through fraudulent means. This practice, often done in a bid to bypass proper procedures.

In a statement released to news agencies in Abuja on Monday, Azeez Sani, the acting Director of Information and Public Relations at NECO, emphasized the Council’s zero-tolerance stance on such malpractices. Sani explained that the Council had observed an increasing number of cases where candidates were being fraudulently enrolled for NECO exams without their consent, which has resulted in the circulation of fake results.

“NECO has observed that enrolling candidates by proxy often leads to identity theft and the subsequent parade of fake results,” said Sani. “To curb this, we have implemented stringent measures to prevent impersonation in all NECO-conducted examinations.”

In its ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of its examinations, NECO has introduced several mechanisms to combat this issue. Some of the measures include the use of Biometric Data Capturing Devices, the issuance of customized answer booklets, and the embossing of photographs and dates of birth on original certificates.

“Some of the measures include: the use of Biometric Data Capturing Device, use of customised answer booklets, and embossing of photographs and dates of birth of candidates on the original certificates,” Sani said.

To further secure the examination process, NECO launched the NECO e-verify platform in 2023. This online platform allows for the confirmation and verification of results to ensure their authenticity. The NECO e-verify platform was unveiled in 2023 to reduce infractions and provide a reliable way to authenticate results.

The acting Director added that the public should be aware that any certificate issued by NECO, which cannot be verified through the e-Verify platform, is likely to be fake. He urged the public to rely on the platform for any verification needs.

“The Council, therefore, calls on state ministries of education and other school owners to ensure that only personal details of genuine candidates are used for registration in all NECO-conducted examinations,” he stressed.

NECO’s strict stance aims to protect the credibility of its examinations and prevent fraudulent practices that undermine the educational system. The Council has warned that anyone found guilty of violating these guidelines will face severe penalties, ensuring that the integrity of the examination process is upheld.