The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies delivered a sharp rebuke to the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Monday, over widespread irregularities and operational failures that marred the 2025 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The session, held at the National Assembly, saw lawmakers intensely grilling Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC Nigeria, over what they described as systemic lapses that have severely undermined public confidence in Nigeria’s examination system.
The investigative hearing opened with an address from the committee chairman, Oforji Oboku (PDP, Yenagoa/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State). Oboku expressed deep disappointment at the council’s performance, lamenting the numerous failings that had come to light.
At the same time, he commended his fellow lawmakers for prioritizing the oversight meeting despite the National Assembly not being in session, underscoring the urgency of restoring integrity to the country’s educational assessment processes.
“This gathering reflects our collective resolve to restore dignity and credibility to our examination system,” Oboku declared solemnly. “On behalf of this committee, I offer an unreserved apology to Nigerian parents, guardians, and candidates who endured the chaos that characterized the last examination cycle. We are fully committed to ensuring such a debacle never recurs.”
Recounting a prior meeting with WAEC officials on May 30, Oboku described the revelations as appalling, particularly the reports that students in several examination centres were forced to sit for their exams under deplorable conditions—some even writing exams late into the night by torchlight. “It is utterly unacceptable that in the year 2025, students are sitting for critical national exams at 11 PM under torchlight. This situation exposes not only a failure of logistics but, more importantly, a failure of leadership,” he asserted.
Despite emphasizing that the committee’s investigation was not intended as a witch-hunt, the Bayelsa lawmaker stressed the need to thoroughly identify the root causes of the council’s repeated inefficiencies. “We must uncover the underlying problems, confront them head-on, and hold those responsible fully accountable,” Oboku insisted.
The hearing grew increasingly heated as lawmakers voiced their frustration with WAEC’s “habitual negligence” and “lack of preparedness.” One unidentified lawmaker openly chastised the council, demanding, “Admit your failure to the Nigerian people. If you feel overwhelmed, shed tears if you must, but when you’re done, tender your resignation.”
Adding to the critique was the skepticism surrounding Dr. Dangut’s claim that WAEC would implement computer-based testing (CBT) centres nationwide by 2026. “You talk about CBT readiness, yet many local government areas do not have even a single CBT centre. It’s like owning a car with a driver but having no road to drive on. This is fantasy, not a reflection of actual capacity,” Oboku remarked pointedly.
In light of these challenges, the committee called for a national education summit aimed at thoroughly assessing the true state of secondary school infrastructure across Nigeria. Lawmakers further expressed concern over the reputational damage inflicted on Nigeria throughout West Africa due to WAEC’s ongoing failings, emphasizing the broader regional implications of the council’s mismanagement.
Dr. Dangut, while defending the council, attributed the failures to unforeseen logistical difficulties and security challenges in certain parts of the country. However, his explanations were frequently interrupted by lawmakers who dismissed these justifications as insufficient and unacceptable in light of the magnitude of the failures.
By the end of the session, the committee passed a resolution demanding that WAEC submit a comprehensive audit of its digital infrastructure—especially in underserved areas—along with a detailed roadmap outlining its readiness to fully deploy CBT nationwide. Furthermore, the council was instructed to provide the National Assembly with its complete operational guidelines and all reports related to examination paper leakages.
Oforji Oboku underscored the gravity of the situation. “This is a defining moment. We must insist on competence, honesty, and reform. Education is far too important to be managed by trial and error. The future of our children, and the nation as a whole, is at stake.”