The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), demanding its appearance before the committee on Friday, May 30, 2025, over mounting concerns surrounding the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The directive was issued by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, on Thursday, following WAEC’s failure to honour a prior invitation to address growing reports of irregularities and logistical failures affecting the nationwide examinations.
Speaking to journalists after the committee’s sitting in Abuja, Oforji expressed deep disappointment at WAEC’s absence, especially after the council was formally summoned on Tuesday, May 27, to provide clarifications on multiple issues disrupting the smooth conduct of the SSCE.
“The examinations have been riddled with serious irregularities. We’ve received reports of students writing exams as late as midnight in some centres across the country,” the lawmaker said. “The House deemed it necessary to summon WAEC to explain these developments and the trauma candidates are currently facing.”
Oforji revealed that WAEC responded only on Thursday morning, citing its ongoing coordination of the exams as the reason for not appearing before the committee. He, however, rejected that explanation, stating that WAEC’s direct involvement in the exams made their presence at the hearing all the more necessary.
“This is not just about operational delays; we are dealing with the credibility of an examination that affects the future of hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians,” he added. “WAEC’s absence today is unacceptable, considering the scale of public concern and the gravity of the complaints we have received.”
The committee has now directed WAEC to appear without fail by Friday, May 30. Oforji warned that failure to comply would leave the House with no option but to invoke its constitutional powers to compel the examination body to appear.
“The integrity of our national exams must not be compromised. We will use every legal tool available to ensure accountability and transparency in the conduct of public examinations in Nigeria,” Oforji declared.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes are now on WAEC to respond promptly and address the growing alarm surrounding the ongoing SSCE.
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