Mixed reactions have continued to trail a new bill presented by the House of Representatives seeking to impose a five-year jail term or a fine of ₦500,000—or both—on anyone found guilty of examination malpractice.
The bill, tagged “Examination Malpractices Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025 (HB2097)”, was introduced by Esosa Iyawe, who represents Oredo Federal Constituency. The proposed law, which aims to repeal the existing 2004 Examination Malpractice Act, seeks to expand the definition of exam malpractice and increase the penalties to curb the growing menace.
According to the bill, any person involved in leaking exam questions, or using tech devices to cheat, faces imprisonment of up to three years or a ₦500,000 fine—or both. For offenders under 18, the penalties remain but will be enforced in line with the Child Rights Act.
More severe penalties await education officials such as principals, teachers, invigilators, and examiners, who may face four years behind bars with no option of a fine if found guilty of aiding malpractice.
Also included in the bill are provisions targeting exam markers who alter scores fraudulently. Such individuals could face a four-year jail term or a fine of ₦400,000—or both.
Section 4 of the bill criminalizes stealing or taking exam materials with intent to cheat, with a penalty of up to three years in prison or a ₦500,000 fine. Impersonation during exams is also listed as an offence, with the same penalty for minors and four years without a fine option for education officials.
Furthermore, candidates who leave the exam venue and return with the intent to cheat will not only be fined ₦300,000 or jailed for three years, but also banned from completing the exam.
The bill goes on to address communication during exams. Anyone caught aiding a candidate by passing information or lurking around exam centers with the intent to help a candidate cheat could face penalties similar to those listed above.
The proposal has sparked debate across Nigeria, with many questioning the timing and priority of such legislation amid the country’s pressing issues.
Chief Maxi Okwu, former APGA national chairman and legal practitioner, described the bill as a distraction from more urgent national concerns. “There are bigger problems—terrorism, banditry, hunger. Tackling exam malpractice now doesn’t make sense when the nation is bleeding,” he said.
While Okwu acknowledged the need for consequences for malpractice, he stressed that enhancing existing laws could wait until more pressing national security issues are resolved.
In a similar tone, lawyer and public analyst Adekunle James questioned the moral authority of lawmakers behind the bill. He accused some legislators of questionable academic backgrounds and argued that the current law on exam malpractice already provides sufficient deterrents.
“For lawmakers to focus on this when Nigerians are being killed by terrorists, battling hunger, and struggling to survive is a joke. What we need now are laws that protect lives, reduce suffering, and provide economic relief,” James said.
Public opinion remains divided—some agree stricter laws are needed to save the education system, while others see it as a misplaced priority that does little to address the country’s more urgent crises.
What’s your take on the proposed jail terms for exam malpractice? Join the conversation—share your thoughts in the comments below or on NIGPOST’s social media platforms.
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