In a significant development on Friday, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies refused to engage with a WAEC delegation led by Senior Assistant Registrar Ambrose Okelezo, insisting that only the Head of WAEC’s National Office can adequately respond to concerns about the ongoing examination irregularities.
The committee issued a 24-hour ultimatum for WAEC’s top official to appear before them. Okelezo explained that the Head of National Office was currently occupied with exam printing supervision and proposed to appear on Monday instead.
Committee Chairman Oforji Oboku apologized to parents for the distress caused by late-night exams, particularly noting, “In Jalingo, the exam started at midnight. The trauma these children faced is hard to imagine. We must find out why this happened and make sure it never happens again.”
He stressed the government’s financial investment in the exams and demanded that WAEC take responsibility: “WAEC must organise exams properly since the government pays for it. We want answers, not excuses.”
Despite Okelezo’s acknowledgment of exam delays and challenges, committee members expressed frustration. Hon. Awaji Abiante condemned the delegation’s inability to provide direct answers, stating, “People in my village wrote exams at 12 a.m. or 1 a.m. Their question papers were even left with commercial drivers! This is incompetence.”
Abiante also questioned the feasibility of computer-based tests given the lack of computers and relevant skills in many schools.
Chairman Oboku called for a calm and measured response, affirming, “We want to deal with this seriously but not emotionally. The Head of WAEC will come on Monday as promised.”
Other members, including Hon. Pascal Agbodike and Hon. Osawaru, supported the demand for the Head of WAEC’s presence, describing the situation as a “national embarrassment” and rejecting the deputies’ testimony.
The committee resolved that the Head of WAEC must appear by 2 pm on Monday to provide full explanations.
