By George Omagbemi
The Federal Government has proposed a harmonised examination timetable targeting the release of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) results by August 2027, ahead of the September admission process into tertiary institutions.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, announced the proposal during a meeting with heads and representatives of examination bodies at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja.
According to the ministry, the plan is intended to reduce examination timetable clashes, improve coordination and ensure candidates receive their results early enough to pursue admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Under the proposed schedule, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will conduct the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from March 15 to 25, with results expected in March.
NECO’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is scheduled for April 1 to May 14, while WAEC’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is expected to hold from May 11 to June 18.
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination is proposed for June 1 to July 5, while the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examination is scheduled for June 10 to July 9.
Results from WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS are targeted for release in August 2027.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the initiative forms part of ongoing reforms under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, which seeks to improve efficiency and educational outcomes.
However, the timetable remains a proposal, and the examination bodies are expected to work with the ministry to align their schedules and meet the proposed deadlines.
If implemented successfully, the plan could reduce admission-related delays and give students and parents greater certainty when planning the transition from secondary school to higher education.
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