The Federal Government has retained the existing admission criteria for its 80 Federal Government Colleges, FGCs, reaffirming that admissions into the nation’s Unity Colleges will continue to be based on 60 per cent merit, 30 per cent equality of states and 10 per cent exigency.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, gave the indication on Thursday in Abuja during the official released of the results of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination, NCEE, which serves as the gateway into Junior Secondary School One, JSS1, in the Federal Government Colleges.
Presenting the results released by the National Examinations Council, NECO, Ahmad said 10 candidates emerged as the highest scorers nationwide, each obtaining 202 marks out of the maximum obtainable score of 210.
The minister disclosed that 70,357 candidates registered for the examination, while 66,950 candidates sat for the test conducted on June 6, 2026, across Nigeria as well as designated centres in the Republic of Benin and Togo. A total of 3,407 candidates were absent.
According to her, while the highest score recorded was 202 marks, 82 candidates obtained the lowest score of one mark.
Ahmad described the NCEE as one of Nigeria’s most competitive entrance examinations, noting that it provides qualified Nigerian pupils at home and abroad the opportunity to gain admission into the country’s Unity Colleges.
She said the Federal Government Colleges have continued to serve as important institutions for fostering national integration and unity, adding that they remain among the most preferred secondary schools for parents across the country.
The minister also unveiled the results of the entrance examination into the Federal Government Academy, Suleja.
She disclosed that 2,071 candidates registered for the examination, with 1,876 sitting for the test, while 195 were absent.
She said the highest score recorded in the academy’s entrance examination was 187 marks, equivalent to 89.05 per cent of the total obtainable score, while the lowest score was four marks.
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to a transparent admission process, Ahmad directed the Senior Secondary Education Department to conclude admissions without delay and in strict compliance with the approved guidelines.
She also assured parents that the Federal Government would continue investing in infrastructure, teacher development and improved welfare services, including school feeding, to enhance the quality of education in the Unity Colleges.
“Our Federal Government Colleges have become the first choice for many parents across Nigeria. We will continue to improve infrastructure, feeding and the quality of teachers to ensure better learning outcomes for our children,” she said.
Earlier, the Registrar of the National Examinations Council, NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, formally presented the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination results and the National Gifted Examination results to the minister for official release.
