The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has issued a strong ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), demanding its presence before the Committee within 24 hours. This follows widespread reports of troubling irregularities during the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), including accounts of candidates writing exams as late as midnight in some centres across the country.
According to the Committee Chairman, Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, WAEC had already been summoned earlier in the week, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, to address these alarming issues. However, the examination body failed to honour the invitation scheduled for Thursday, prompting the Committee to take more decisive action. Oforji emphasized that the House expected WAEC to appear on Friday, May 30, 2025, without fail.
“The examinations have been riddled with serious irregularities,” said Oforji. “We’ve received consistent and disturbing reports of students being forced to sit for papers as late as midnight at certain exam centres. This is not only unacceptable but also poses significant emotional and physical strain on the candidates. The House deemed it necessary to summon WAEC to explain the circumstances and steps being taken to address them.”
He explained that WAEC, in a belated response on Thursday morning, claimed it could not attend the Committee meeting due to its involvement in conducting the ongoing exams. Oforji noted that this reasoning only heightened the urgency of their appearance. “That’s precisely why we need them here—to provide clarity and solutions,” he added.
Despite the tension, the Committee reiterated that its purpose is not to attack or undermine WAEC, but rather to seek solutions that would protect students and restore public trust in the examination process. “Our goal is not to witch-hunt WAEC,” Oforji said. “We want to calm public anxiety, identify the root causes of these disruptions, and ensure they don’t happen again in the future. WAEC has a long history of conducting credible exams. This level of disorganization is unprecedented and deeply troubling.”
He further warned that if WAEC does not comply with the 24-hour ultimatum and fails to appear before the Committee on Friday, the House would be compelled to invoke its constitutional powers to enforce attendance. “WAEC must appear without fail on Friday, May 30, 2025, or face legislative sanctions as provided by the Constitution,” Oforji warned sternly.
This latest development adds to growing public scrutiny over the management of national examinations and highlights the importance of accountability in educational assessment processes.