NIGERIA: House Of Reps Issues 24-Hour Ultimatum To WAEC Over Widespread SSCE Irregularities

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has demanded the immediate appearance of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) within 24 hours, following alarming reports of irregularities in the ongoing 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

The ultimatum was issued in a statement on Thursday, May 29, by the Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, after WAEC, failed to honour an invitation to appear before the committee to address growing public concern over the integrity of the examinations.

Hon. Oforji said: “The Committee is deeply concerned by widespread irregularities reported across examination centres. We’ve received disturbing accounts of students sitting for exams as late as midnight in some locations. This is completely unacceptable.”

The House had summoned WAEC to a hearing scheduled for Thursday, following complaints from students, parents, and education stakeholders. According to Oforji, the Council was formally invited on Tuesday, May 27, but failed to attend the session without giving prior notice.

WAEC later responded, stating its active involvement in the ongoing exams as the reason for its absence, a justification Oforji dismissed as ironic.

He further stated: “The House felt it necessary to summon WAEC to explain these developments and the trauma candidates are currently facing. However, WAEC responded this morning, saying they couldn’t appear due to their involvement in the ongoing exams. Ironically, this is the very reason we are asking them to appear.”

He emphasised that the Committee views WAEC’s absence as a serious dereliction, particularly at a time when public trust in the examination process is eroding.

He noted: “WAEC has been conducting exams for decades, and we have never experienced this level of disorganisation. Something is wrong, and it must be addressed.”

The Committee has now directed that WAEC must appear before it no later than Friday, May 30, 2025. Failure to comply, Oforji warned, would trigger legislative actions under the powers granted to the National Assembly by the Nigerian Constitution.

Oforji explained: “Our intention is not to witch-hunt WAEC, but to seek answers that will calm public tension and prevent a recurrence of these challenges. The Committee has, therefore, resolved that WAEC must appear unfailingly on Friday… or face legislative sanctions.”

The SSCE, a critical national examination administered annually by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), plays a key role in students’ academic progression. The current irregularities, ranging from delayed exam materials to late-night exam sessions, have raised fears of mass failure and compromised exam integrity.

WAEC has yet to issue an official statement beyond its brief communication to the House.