Abuja: The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies has called for a comprehensive report and guidelines concerning the conduct of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). This request follows a motion by Rep. Mary Ibikake (PDP-Bayelsa) during an investigative hearing held by the committee in Abuja. The hearing focused on the issues encountered during the 2025 examination conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in several parts of the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the glitches in question led to some candidates taking their English Language examination as late as 9 p.m. without adequate lighting. Rep. Oboku Oforji (PDP-Bayelsa), Chairman of the committee, emphasized the need for explanations from WAEC, especially for the parents of the affected candidates. He noted that the committee had previously sought explanations for the poor handling of the exams, which sparked widespread public concern and criticism.
Rep. Oforji stated that the committee’s intention is to understand the immediate and underlying causes of the examination mishandling to prevent future occurrences. He highlighted the responsibilities owed to the public, given that parliament had allocated funds for conducting these examinations.
In response, Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC in Nigeria, issued an apology to Nigerians, parents, candidates, and other stakeholders for the oversight. Dangut attributed the issue to logistical challenges arising from the necessity to set and print new examination papers after an initial leak to prevent unfair advantage. He elaborated that WAEC’s printing press was functioning at half capacity, requiring external vendors’ assistance, which contributed to the leak.
Dangut explained that distribution glitches arose as some delivery vehicles encountered breakdowns in challenging terrains. He assured that a thorough investigation is underway and that legal actions will be pursued against those found responsible. Additionally, he clarified that contrary to some reports, candidates were provided with alternative light sources in collaboration with schools and parents.
The WAEC chief mentioned that investments have been made to ensure the internal printing press will operate at full capacity to avoid future issues. Rep. Oforji, in his concluding remarks, urged WAEC to implement measures to prevent a recurrence of such situations.