The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has requested comprehensive guidelines and a detailed report on the conduct of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
This demand followed the adoption of a motion by Representative Mary Ibikake (PDP, Bayelsa) during an investigative hearing held by the committee on Monday in Abuja.
The hearing was convened to address the technical and logistical problems that marred the 2025 WASSCE in several parts of the country. Among the irregularities reported was a disturbing incident in which some candidates were compelled to sit for the English Language paper at around 9 p.m., without adequate lighting.
Chairman of the committee, Representative Oboku Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa), stated that the committee, along with concerned Nigerians and the parents of the affected candidates, deserved full accountability from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
He recalled that the committee had earlier demanded clarification from WAEC over what he described as a deeply flawed handling of the national examinations, which triggered widespread public criticism and disappointment.
“This committee wants answers, and so do the parents and the Nigerian public. We owe them a responsibility. Resources were allocated by the National Assembly for the proper conduct of these examinations,” Oforji said.
“We are not wielding a sledgehammer to crush a fly. But as I mentioned in our last meeting, we must understand both the immediate and underlying causes of this failure. Only by doing so can we prevent such an incident from happening again.”
Responding to the committee’s concerns, the Head of WAEC Nigeria, Dr Amos Dangut, issued a formal apology to Nigerians, parents, candidates and other stakeholders for the mishap.
He attributed the problem to logistical setbacks that arose after the council was forced to set and print new examination papers due to the leak of previously prepared ones. The last-minute change was aimed at ensuring fairness and integrity.
According to Dangut, WAEC’s printing press was functioning at only 50 per cent capacity at the time, which made it necessary to engage external vendors. This external involvement, he said, led to the leak and compounded the distribution challenges.
He further explained that the delay in delivering the new question papers was partly caused by vehicles breaking down while navigating difficult terrains at night. The papers were distributed overnight, leading to the late administration of the exams in some centres.
Dr Dangut assured the committee that a full investigation had been launched and that legal steps would be taken against anyone found culpable.
He dismissed claims that candidates were denied food or basic comfort, stating that WAEC officials worked with parents and schools to provide lighting alternatives such as rechargeable lamps, torches, candles and mobile phones for the affected students.
He added that new investments had been made to boost the capacity of the council’s internal printing press to full operation, thereby minimising the likelihood of future disruptions.
In his final remarks, the committee chairman urged WAEC to adopt stronger safeguards to ensure that such an embarrassing episode does not reoccur.