The Head of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, on Monday issued a sincere apology to Nigerians, admitting that logistical failures—caused by a last-minute reprint of question papers due to leaks—were responsible for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) delays, which forced Nigerian students to take English Language exams as late as 9 p.m. in poor lighting conditions. He also disclosed that WAEC’s internal printing press was functioning at only 50% capacity, requiring the council to depend on external printers, which affected the process.
Earlier, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies launched an investigation into WAEC over what it called a severely mismanaged 2025 WASSCE, highlighting the late-night English exams under inadequate lighting.
At a hearing in Abuja, the committee expressed dissatisfaction and demanded a detailed report and official guidelines from WAEC on how the exams were conducted. The action followed a motion by Rep. Mary Ibikake (PDP-Bayelsa), amid widespread public concern.Committee Chairman Rep. Oboku Oforji (PDP-Bayelsa) criticized the examination body sharply, labeling the situation a national embarrassment that needs immediate attention.
“Parents, students, and Nigerians deserve explanations,” Oforji said. “This is more than a technical issue—it’s about the mental and academic welfare of our children. Parliament approved funds for WAEC to conduct credible exams, not to expose students to chaos.”
He emphasized that the committee was not conducting a witch-hunt but was responsible for identifying both immediate and systemic problems that caused the failure and ensuring it does not happen again. In response, Dangut explained that the overnight distribution of replacement papers caused delays in remote areas, pushing exams back by several hours. He denied reports that candidates were left in harsh conditions, stating that WAEC coordinated with schools and parents to provide alternatives like torches, candles, and phone lights.
“We have started a full investigation, and anyone found responsible will face legal action,” he said, adding that steps are already being taken to restore WAEC’s printing capacity to full operation. Despite the apology, lawmakers insisted the failure was unacceptable.
“This operational breakdown not only damages WAEC’s credibility but also subjects our children to trauma and academic setbacks,” Oforji said in closing.He urged WAEC to implement strong contingency and security plans to rebuild public trust and prevent a repeat of such an incident.
Source : https://www.vanguardngr.com/
