It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and utterly indefensible that in 2025, our children are forced to write critical national exams in pitch darkness, like second-class citizens
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the recent incident in which Nigerian students were reportedly forced to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) under dark, unfit, and inhumane conditions. He described the occurrence as a “national disgrace” and a glaring reflection of the systemic collapse in Nigeria’s public education sector.
In a sharply worded statement, Atiku expressed deep concern over the implications of such conditions on students’ performance and their psychological well-being. “This is not merely an unfortunate incident,” he said. “It is a damning indictment of our systemic failure to uphold the most basic standards in public education.”
Atiku further decried the situation as unjustifiable and unacceptable, particularly in an era where basic infrastructure should be a given in any academic setting.
“It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and utterly indefensible that in 2025, our children are forced to write critical national exams in pitch darkness, like second-class citizens,” he stated.
He emphasized that preparing for national examinations is a shared responsibility between students and examination authorities. However, in this case, he noted, the fault lies squarely with the latter.
“Examination preparedness is a shared responsibility between students and the examination authorities. In this case, it is glaringly evident that the latter has failed spectacularly in their duty,” he asserted.
As a remedial measure, the former Vice President called for an immediate retake of the affected examination paper across all compromised centres, stressing that failure to do so would amount to gross injustice.
“I, therefore, demand, unequivocally, that the affected examination paper be retaken in all compromised centres. Anything less would be a grave injustice to the students whose futures hang in the balance,” he said.
Atiku also urged the relevant educational authorities to ensure that minimum infrastructural and environmental standards are established and strictly enforced for all future national examinations.
He argued that such safeguards are essential to protect students’ rights and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system. “Going forward, it is imperative that relevant authorities establish and enforce minimum environmental and infrastructural standards for all high-stakes national examinations,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has waded into the controversy. The committee has summoned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), giving the body a 24-hour ultimatum to appear before it on Friday.
The council is expected to address growing concerns regarding the administration of the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), particularly the widely reported failures in examination conditions.
In addition to legislative scrutiny, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also expressed outrage over the handling of the English Language examination, which reportedly experienced delays during the ongoing SSCE.
NANS slammed WAEC for the operational lapses and demanded accountability, noting that the mishandling of such a critical examination undermines the academic credibility and emotional stability of students.
Together, these reactions signal rising frustration among stakeholders over the state of Nigeria’s education infrastructure and the urgent need for reforms that prioritize student welfare, fairness, and academic excellence.