WAEC Apologizes for 2025 WASSCE Mishaps—Vows Full Investigation & Major Reforms Ahead!

Dr. Amos Dangut, the head of WAEC Nigeria, apologized profusely to Nigerians on Monday and acknowledged that the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was marred by logistical issues, including a last-minute question paper reprint brought on by leaks, which forced Nigerian students to sit for English language exams in dimly lit conditions as late as 9 p.m.

He further disclosed that the council had to rely on outside suppliers because WAEC’s internal printing press was only running at 50% capacity, which jeopardized the procedure.

Recall that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) was the subject of an investigation by the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies due to what it called a terribly mishandled 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), in which Nigerian students were made to sit for English language papers in dimly lit conditions until 9 p.m.

The committee, clearly unhappy, ordered a detailed report and official guidelines from WAEC on the handling of the contentious tests at an investigative hearing in Abuja. In the midst of mounting public indignation, Rep. Mary Ibikake (PDP-Bayelsa) made a motion that led to the resolution.

Rep. Oboku Oforji (PDP-Bayelsa), the chairman of the committee, was unreserved in his criticism of the examination body’s conduct, describing it as a national disgrace that needs immediate attention.

Oforji stated, “Parents, students, and Nigerians in general deserve answers.”This concerns our children’s academic and psychological health, not merely a technological issue. Funds were provided by Parliament for WAEC to administer reliable tests rather than to throw pupils into disarray.

He emphasized that the committee had a duty to the country to identify the immediate and systemic shortcomings that caused the scandal and to stop it from happening again, rather than engaging in a witch hunt.

Dangut defended himself by claiming that the overnight distribution of replacement exam papers caused malfunctions in isolated locations, causing exams to be postponed by several hours. He did, however, refute allegations that candidates were left in inhumane circumstances, claiming that WAEC collaborated with parents and schools to supply substitute lighting options such as phone lights, candles, and torches.

He stated that expenditures were already being made to get WAEC’s internal printing capacity back to 100% and that “we have commenced a full investigation, and anyone found culpable will face legal consequences.”

Lawmakers insisted that the violation was unacceptable in spite of the apology.

In his closing remarks, Oforji said, “This type of operational failure not only damages WAEC’s reputation but also puts our children at risk for trauma and academic disadvantage.”

In order to rebuild public trust and guarantee that such a breach never occurs again, he tasked WAEC with implementing strong security and contingency measures.