The West African Examinations Council‘s management was reprimanded by the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies on Monday for the general anomalies and operational shortcomings that marked the 2025 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
At an investigative hearing at the National Assembly, lawmakers grilled the Head of WAEC, Nigeria, Dr Amos Dangut, over what they described as systemic lapses that had eroded public trust in Nigeria’s examination process.
The body faces sharp criticism following widespread reports of irregularities and operational failures during the ongoing examination nationwide.
Stakeholders, including parents, students, and education experts, have expressed deep concerns over logistical lapses, security issues, and poor management that have undermined the integrity of the exam process.
These challenges have sparked calls for urgent reforms to restore public confidence and ensure a fair, transparent examination system.
Opening the session, the chairman of the committee, Oforji Oboku (PDP, Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State), launched a sharp rebuke of the council’s performance, while commending his colleagues for prioritising the oversight meeting despite the parliament not being in session.
“This gathering reflects our collective resolve to restore dignity and credibility to our examination system.
“On behalf of this committee, I offer an unreserved apology to Nigerian parents, guardians, and candidates who suffered the chaos of the last examination cycle. We are committed to ensuring this never happens again,” he said.
Recalling an earlier meeting with WAEC on May 30, Oboku described as appalling the revelations that students in several centres were compelled to sit for the examination under extreme conditions, including late-night sessions lit by torchlights.
“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 added.
Although he emphasized that the committee’s probe was not a witch-hunt, the Bayelsa lawmaker insisted on getting to the root of the council’s inefficiencies.
