The National Examinations Council (NECO) has commended the resilience and commitment of its workforce for sustaining the uninterrupted conduct of examinations despite security challenges, including Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and sit-at-home orders.
Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, gave the commendation on Wednesday in Minna, Niger State, at the council’s 2025 Annual Staff Productivity Award Ceremony.
Wushishi described NECO employees as the “army of NECO”, saying their round-the-clock commitment had enabled the council to maintain its examination operations even in difficult security environments.
He said the nature of the council’s responsibilities required its personnel to remain constantly alert and ready to execute their duties, regardless of prevailing circumstances.
“During the heydays of Boko Haram, the activities of Boko Haram have never stopped NECO’s examination. Banditry has never stopped NECO examination.
Kidnapping has never stopped NECO examination. Sit-at-home order has never stopped NECO examination,” he said.
The registrar said NECO had continued to distribute examination logistics as scheduled, whether such operations were required during the day or at night.
“These are what the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria do during their activities or any time they are detailed to carry out security functions. So, the army of NECO, I salute you,” Wushishi said.
He explained that the annual productivity awards were designed not only to celebrate individual achievements but also to motivate staff, improve service delivery and promote continuous improvement across the council.
According to him, the 2025 awards recognised exceptional contributions by staff and stakeholders while encouraging healthy competition and a culture of improved performance.
Wushishi said the awards covered retirees and hardworking staff across the Registrar’s Office, departments, zonal directorates, 36 state offices, the Liaison and LCT offices, as well as outstanding state coordinators and drivers.
He added that special recognition was also given to the best-performing male and female students in various examinations conducted by the council.
The registrar described the students as the ultimate beneficiaries of NECO’s work, saying their achievements reflected hard work, discipline and perseverance.
He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to improving its processes, strengthening accountability and maintaining the credibility of its examinations, stressing that productivity was not merely about completing assigned tasks but delivering quality outcomes with integrity, timeliness and measurable impact.
Wushishi urged award recipients to serve as role models to other workers, while calling on all NECO personnel to embrace perseverance, teamwork, unity and continuous self-improvement.
He also acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders to the council’s operations, saying their collaboration had helped NECO sustain the smooth conduct of examinations across Nigeria and in foreign countries.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, described the ceremony as more than the presentation of certificates and awards, saying it demonstrated recognition of excellence and commitment to encouraging hard work, discipline and continuous improvement within NECO.
Garba said the annual productivity awards were designed to recognise significant contributions by staff and stakeholders, motivate personnel, boost morale and promote healthy competition that would ultimately improve performance and strengthen confidence in the country’s examination system.
He stressed that the credibility of examinations depended not only on policies but also on the commitment, competence and integrity of the people responsible for implementing them.
According to him, the conduct of examinations must be anchored on the highest standards of integrity, prudence and efficiency, while commending NECO’s efforts to improve productivity and strengthen operational readiness.
Garba urged NECO staff to allow the recognition of outstanding performance to inspire greater productivity and stronger results, stressing that their work must be guided by fairness, transparency and accountability because its outcomes affect the lives and future opportunities of students.
At the ceremony, NECO honoured its Cross River State Coordinator, Miss Ruth Nnamani, as the Best State Coordinator of the Year.
The Best Excellence Performance awards went to Mrs. Tabitha Kopdungha of Plateau State, Mr. Garba Sandy of Niger State and Mr. Rabiu Yakubu of Kaduna State.
The council also presented certificates of service to 55 staff retirees for 2025 in recognition of their years of loyalty, dedication and contribution to the development of NECO.
Among the retirees recognised were the former Director of Registration, Mrs. Hajara Ali; Director, South-South Zone, Mr. Irem Obiahu; Director, Test Development, Mr. Michael Okei; and Acting Director, South-East Zone, Mr. Samuel Adiniyi.
Awards were also presented to the six zonal directors, the FCT Liaison Office, and coordinators of NECO’s 36 state offices and Abuja.
In the Senior School Certificate Examination category, Akai Bernice Kuyet and Eke Felix Emenike, both of School Sense Barnawa, Kaduna State, emerged as the best female and male students respectively.
For the Basic Education Certificate Examination, Miss Michael Daniela Chiamaka of Christland High School, Ikeja, Lagos, and Mrs. Salihu Amir Umar of Kadwel International Schools, Kaduna, received the female and male awards respectively.
The National Gifted Examination awards went to Master Ezeundu Samuel Akachukwu of God’s Wisdom International School, Anambra State, in the male category, while Ubochi Akunnaya of Diamond Special Schools, Owerri, won the female category.
Alocha Naeto Daniel of Remmon Home Academy won the National Common Entrance award for the male category, while Adenuga Monsurat Feyisara of Ar-Rahman Montessori School, Ojota, received the female award.
The NECO Staff Productivity Awards is an annual programme organised to recognise and celebrate exceptional contributions by staff and stakeholders of the council.
The programme is aimed at boosting morale, motivation and productivity while promoting healthy competition and continuous improvement in areas including administration, teaching, research and innovation.
NECO said publicly acknowledging and rewarding exemplary performance remained a veritable strategy for enhancing the quality and effectiveness of its educational services in Nigeria.
