WAEC Explains Late-Night Exams, Blames Protests and Staff Deaths
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria has attributed the disruptions experienced during the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a combination of logistical, security, and operational challenges.
In a statement released yesterday, the Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, outlined that the delays were linked to protests over the abduction of schoolchildren, the tragic death of three WAEC officials in a road accident in Gombe State, and other operational difficulties.
WAEC was responding to widespread complaints following delays that affected the conduct of several papers across the country last week. Candidates reportedly spent hours waiting before sitting for the physics, essay, and objective papers. The situation persisted on Wednesday during the Mathematics Objective paper and worsened on Thursday when some candidates in Oyo State wrote their exams under poor lighting conditions.
Videos that surfaced online showed students using torchlights and mobile phone flashlights to write their papers, drawing criticism from parents, teachers, and other stakeholders. The disruptions occurred amid nationwide protests organized by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states.
WAEC also suffered a major setback when three officials responsible for transporting examination materials died in a road accident along the Gombe-Yola highway. According to the council, the officials were on official duty when their vehicle collided with a truck.
The examination body said it commenced preliminary investigations immediately after receiving reports of the delays from examination centres across the country. According to WAEC, the investigation showed that the challenges resulted from a combination of factors, including the loss of key personnel, security concerns, and difficulties arising from the protests.
WAEC further noted that security concerns and protests triggered by the abduction of schoolchildren disrupted the movement and timely distribution of examination materials in some locations.
Despite the setbacks, the council assured candidates, parents, and other stakeholders that corrective measures had been implemented to prevent a recurrence and ensure the smooth conduct of the remaining examinations. WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity, credibility, and seamless administration of the WASSCE nationwide.
