The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has summoned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) following rising concerns about irregularities in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Naturenex reported that committee, headed by Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to WAEC, demanding its appearance on Friday, May 30, 2025. This directive came after the examination body failed to honour an earlier invitation for a meeting scheduled on May 27, 2025.
The 2025 WASSCE for school candidates began on April 24 and is expected to end by June 20. However, the English Language examination, slated for May 28, reportedly experienced hours-long delays at several centres nationwide. This disruption forced students in some locations to sit for the paper deep into the night, leaving many of them upset over the prolonged wait times.
WAEC, in its explanation, attributed the delays to measures it put in place to prevent examination leakages. However, those efforts inadvertently triggered logistical setbacks, which affected the smooth running of the exam in different parts of the country. Despite the council’s defence, the development has sparked widespread anxiety among students, parents, and stakeholders in the education sector.
Reacting to WAEC’s failure to attend the earlier hearing, Oforji voiced his displeasure, describing the council’s absence as completely unacceptable, especially considering the public uproar surrounding the issue. The committee noted that the volume of complaints over the conduct of the examination has continued to grow.
He said, “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 House felt it necessary to summon WAEC to explain these developments and the trauma candidates are currently facing.”
Oforji further pointed out the irony in WAEC’s excuse for missing the hearing, noting that their absence — due to being occupied with managing the ongoing exams — was directly linked to the problem under investigation.
He cautioned that the House may be left with no choice but to exercise its constitutional authority if WAEC fails to appear by the given deadline of May 30.
Oforji stressed, “Our intention is not to witch-hunt WAEC but to seek answers that will calm public tension and prevent a recurrence of these challenges.”
“WAEC has been conducting exams for decades, and we have never experienced this level of disorganization. Something is wrong, and it must be addressed.”
