The Nigerian House of Representatives has issued a strict ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), demanding that the examination body appear before the House within 24 hours to address escalating concerns surrounding the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Oboku Oforji, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies, announced the directive on Thursday, May 29, 2025, emphasizing that WAEC must present itself on Friday, May 30, without fail. This demand follows WAEC’s failure to attend a previously scheduled meeting intended to discuss reports of irregularities affecting the exams.
“We invited WAEC to explain the problems being reported, including students writing exams as late as midnight in some centres,” Oforji stated with clear disappointment. “Their absence today is unacceptable.”
The committee had been alarmed by multiple reports indicating that candidates were forced to write exams in darkness and at unusually late hours, raising questions about the integrity and management of the examination process. Oforji further revealed that WAEC had informed the committee on Thursday morning that its officials were preoccupied with exam duties, hence their inability to attend the meeting.
“But that is exactly why they need to appear. These irregularities are happening under their watch, and the public deserves answers,” he stressed.
Oforji was quick to clarify that the House’s intention was not to attack WAEC but to understand the root causes of the disorganization and to find lasting solutions. “This level of confusion during national exams is unheard of. WAEC has conducted exams for years, but we’ve never seen this kind of disorganisation,” he added.
He warned that failure to comply with the summons would compel the House to invoke its constitutional powers to compel WAEC’s attendance. The committee’s ultimate goal remains the protection of students and the assurance that such challenges do not recur in future examinations.
