The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies came down hard on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Monday, condemning what it described as widespread failures, irregularities, and operational lapses that marred the 2025 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination across Nigeria.
During an investigative hearing at the National Assembly, lawmakers sharply questioned the Head of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, expressing outrage over what they viewed as the council’s repeated shortcomings and its failure to maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system.
Committee Chairman Oforji Oboku, who represents the Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State under the PDP, set the tone of the session by blasting the council’s recent performance. He lauded his fellow lawmakers for prioritising the oversight hearing, even though the National Assembly was officially on recess.
“This gathering reflects our collective resolve to restore dignity and credibility to our examination system,” Oboku stated firmly.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, he issued a heartfelt apology to Nigerian families and students who endured what he described as the “chaos” of the 2025 examination cycle, pledging that such a breakdown must never be repeated.
Revisiting an earlier meeting with WAEC held on May 30, Oboku cited disturbing reports from across the country, including incidents where students were forced to sit for examinations as late as 11 p.m. using torchlights for illumination due to logistical mishaps.
“It is unacceptable that in 2025, students are sitting for exams at 11 PM under torchlight. This is not just a failure of logistics, it is a failure of leadership,” he asserted, calling the situation an embarrassment to the nation.
While clarifying that the hearing was not a witch-hunt, Oboku stressed the need to diagnose the root causes of WAEC’s repeated operational breakdowns and ensure appropriate accountability measures are taken.
The session grew tense as lawmakers expressed deep frustration, accusing WAEC of “habitual negligence” and a “lack of preparation.” One unidentified lawmaker was particularly blunt, shouting at Dr. Dangut, “Admit your failure to the Nigerian people. If you need to cry, go ahead. But when you’re done, tender your resignation.”
A fresh round of criticism followed WAEC’s stated plan to launch computer-based testing (CBT) centres nationwide by 2026. Lawmakers questioned the feasibility of such a rollout when many local governments still lack even a single CBT facility.
“You talk of CBT readiness, yet many local governments lack a single CBT centre. That’s like saying you own a car and a driver, but there’s no road. It’s fantasy, not capacity,” Oboku said, mocking the council’s ambition as being far removed from reality.
The committee called for the urgent convening of a national education summit to evaluate the current condition of Nigeria’s secondary school infrastructure, noting that physical decay is only part of a broader crisis affecting the educational system.
Committee members also raised alarm about the reputational damage Nigeria continues to suffer within the West African subregion as a result of WAEC’s failures, warning that the country’s credibility in managing education standards was being compromised.
In defense, Dr. Dangut cited insecurity and unexpected logistical setbacks as major contributors to the exam failures, but his responses were met with visible disapproval. Lawmakers repeatedly interrupted his remarks, dismissing his explanations as insufficient and failing to address the scale of the problem.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the committee passed a resolution mandating WAEC to present a thorough audit of its digital infrastructure — with a particular focus on underserved and rural communities — along with a clear, realistic timeline for its CBT implementation plan.
Additionally, the committee instructed WAEC to submit its full operational framework and all documents related to the recent examination paper leakages to the National Assembly.
In closing the session, Chairman Oboku declared, “This is a defining moment. We must insist on competence, honesty, and reform. Education is too critical to be managed by trial and error. The future of our children, and our nation, is at stake.”
What you should know
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education is taking a tough stance on WAEC’s handling of the 2025 SSCE, citing unacceptable lapses like students writing exams under torchlight.
The committee demands comprehensive reforms and accountability, with WAEC now required to audit its infrastructure and prove readiness for future computer-based testing.
