The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has issued a stern 24-hour ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), demanding the examination body appear before it on Friday, May 30, 2025.
This comes amid a storm of public outcry and alarming reports of irregularities plaguing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) across the country.
The ultimatum was handed down on Thursday by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, following WAEC’s failure to respond to an earlier summons to address growing concerns about the conduct of the nationwide exams.
Midnight Exams and Disrupted Timetables Raise Alarm
According to Hon. Oforji, the committee has received disturbing reports that in some examination centres, students were forced to write papers as late as midnight, a scenario he described as “unprecedented and traumatic” for candidates.
“The examinations have been riddled with serious irregularities,” Oforji said. “We’ve been informed of situations where students were writing exams past midnight in some centres. This is not only irregular but poses serious risks to the well-being and mental health of these young Nigerians.”
WAEC was initially summoned on Tuesday, May 27, to appear before the committee on Thursday, but the council failed to show up. According to Oforji, WAEC only responded on Thursday morning, citing their ongoing involvement in supervising the exams as the reason for their absence.
“That’s precisely why we need them here,” the chairman stated. “If their active role in the examination process is causing this level of chaos, then it’s all the more important that we speak with them urgently to understand what is going wrong.”
Legislative Oversight, Not Witch-Hunt
Oforji was quick to clarify that the committee's intention is not punitive but corrective. He stressed that the House was acting in the public interest to address the disarray and prevent such incidents in future examinations.
“We are not out to witch-hunt WAEC. Our goal is to get answers that can help calm the growing public anxiety and ensure these kinds of failures are not repeated,” he said. “WAEC has a long history of conducting standardized exams. What we’re seeing now is a sharp departure from that legacy, and it requires urgent intervention.”
Constitutional Powers to Be Invoked If WAEC Fails to Appear
The committee warned that failure to comply with the summons would force the House to invoke its constitutional oversight powers to compel WAEC’s appearance.
“WAEC must appear before the committee on Friday, May 30, 2025, without fail,” Oforji insisted. “Should they fail to do so, the House will have no choice but to apply legislative sanctions as permitted under the Constitution.”
Background: A Crisis in the Making
This year’s WASSCE has been marred by several operational hiccups, including delayed exam papers, late-night assessments, technical failures, and logistical breakdowns at various exam centres. These challenges have sparked a wave of frustration among students, parents, and educators, who are questioning the competence and preparedness of WAEC in handling the 2025 examination cycle.
Education stakeholders have called for increased transparency and accountability, particularly given WAEC’s vital role in shaping the academic future of millions of West African students.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on WAEC’s next move. The Council’s response to the House ultimatum and the explanations it offers for the irregularities will likely determine not just public perception but also the regulatory steps the legislature may take moving forward.
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