THE 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results released by the National Examinations Council (NECO) show wide variations in the performance of candidates across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
While Abia recorded the highest proportion of candidates obtaining at least five credits, states including Sokoto, Adamawa, Borno and Kano recorded some of the lowest percentages, particularly when Mathematics and English Language were included in the five-credit requirement.
The state-by-state analysis contained in NECO’s 2026 SSCE performance obtained by The ICIR, showed that 1,371,992 candidates sat for the examination nationwide.
Of this number, 1,162,118 candidates, representing 84.70 per cent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of their performance in Mathematics and English Language.
However, when Mathematics and English Language were included, only 804,948 candidates, representing 58.67 per cent, met the five-credit requirement.
In the NECO grading system, grades A1, B2, B3 and C4, C5 and C6 are within the excellent/credit range, while D7 and E8 are passes and F9 is a failure (fail).
For candidates seeking admission into higher institutions, having at least five credits alongside English and Mathematics is particularly important.
For instance, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s 2026 guidelines state that for 100-level degree programmes, candidates generally need a minimum of five credit passes in English and other relevant subjects. Importantly, Mathematics is mandatory for Science, Technology and Social Science programmes.
Abia records highest percentage
Abia recorded the highest percentage of candidates that obtained five credits and above irrespective of Mathematics and English in the 2026 NECO examination.
According to the NECO state-level data, 11,820 candidates sat for the examination in Abia, out of 11,857 registered candidates. This makes Abia the state with the third-lowest number of candidates who sat for the examination, after Kebbi and Bayelsa.
Of those who sat for the examination in the state, 11,289, representing 95.51 per cent, obtained at least five credits.
Imo followed with 21,992 candidates obtaining five credits, representing 95.17 per cent, while Osun recorded 33,063 candidates, representing 94.27 per cent. Ebonyi recorded 13,311 candidates, representing 94.18 per cent, followed by Ekiti at 17,096 candidates, representing 94.07 per cent.
Other states with more than 92 per cent candidates who obtained five credits include Oyo (69,894 candidates, 93.27 per cent); Bayelsa (6,753 candidates, 92.85 per cent); Kogi (23,132 candidates, 92.71 per cent); Lagos (90,448 candidates, 92.51 per cent); Ogun (49,773 candidates, 92.45 per cent); Ondo (25,631 candidates, 92.12 per cent); and Kebbi (4,646 candidates, 92 per cent).
Sokoto records lowest percentage
Sokoto recorded the lowest percentage among the 36 states and FCT under the five-credit benchmark irrespective of Mathematics and English. The state had 30,661 candidates sit for the examination, of whom 20,318, representing 66.27 per cent, obtained five credits and above.
Adamawa followed with 37,145 candidates, representing 69.91 per cent, while Borno recorded 27,882 candidates, representing 72.21 per cent. Kano recorded 122,903 candidates, representing 75.72 per cent, while Yobe had 22,613 candidates, representing 75.78 per cent.
Rivers had 35,188 candidates, representing 77.07 per cent, followed by the FCT with 30,020 candidates, representing 79.50 per cent.
Other states that fell below the national average of 84.70 per cent include Bauchi (30,470 candidates 80.86 per cent); Niger (25,850 candidates, 81.13 per cent); Zamfara (19,015 candidates, 81.42 per cent); Katsina (21,812 candidates, 81.45 per cent); Plateau (29,451 candidates, 82.35 per cent); Taraba (37,463 candidates, 82.60 per cent); Jigawa (29,019 candidates, 84.07 per cent); and Enugu (24,820 candidates, 84.63 per cent).
Maths, English requirement changes performance
However, for most states, their ranking changes substantially when Mathematics and English Language are included in the five-credit requirement.
In the case of Abia, the state retained the highest percentage, with 9,666 of its 11,820 candidates, representing 81.78 per cent, meeting the requirement.
Ebonyi followed with 81.03 per cent, while Ekiti recorded 77.68 per cent.
Osun had 74.31 per cent, Lagos 74.15 per cent, Oyo 74.12 per cent, Imo 74.10 per cent, Bayelsa 73.92 per cent; and Ogun 73.34 per cent.
Sokoto again recorded the lowest percentage, with only 8,222 candidates, or 26.82 per cent, obtaining five credits including Mathematics and English.
Akwa Ibom followed at 37.42 per cent, while Adamawa recorded 37.76 per cent.
Kano leads in candidates with five credits, but records most below benchmark
Kano recorded the highest number of candidates who obtained at least five credits in the 2026 National Examinations Council (NECO) examination.
A total of 74,413 Kano candidates obtained at least five credits, including Mathematics and English Language. Lagos followed with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo ranked third with 55,543 candidates.
However, Kano also recorded the highest number of candidates who did not meet the five-credit requirement when Mathematics and English Language were included.
Of the 162,302 candidates who sat for the examination in the state, 74,413 candidates, representing 45.85 per cent, obtained at least five credits, including the two subjects. This means that 87,889 candidates in Kano did not meet the benchmark.
In Lagos, 72,496 out of 97,771 candidates, representing 74.15 per cent, obtained at least five credits, including Mathematics and English Language. This means 25,275 candidates did not meet the benchmark.
The figures show that although Kano had more candidates who met the five-credit requirement in absolute numbers, Lagos had a higher proportion of candidates who met the requirement.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M