The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has openly criticized the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) following the unexpected delay in administering the English Language paper during the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
The exam, which was initially scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, was reportedly shifted to 7:00 PM due to an alleged leak of the question paper. This sudden change has triggered concern across the country, particularly among students and parents.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NANS National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, expressed the association’s deep concern over the late-night timing of the exam.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students under the leadership of Comrade Olushola Oladoja strongly condemns the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over the undue delay of the English Language paper on Wednesday allegedly due to the leakage of examination questions
“This development, which resulted in the postponement of the examination to an absurdly late period of 4:00 to 7:00 PM, demonstrates a shocking level of insensitivity and a gross disregard for the safety and well-being of Nigerian students, particularly those in rural communities.
“The decision to hold examinations at such late hours not only endangers students—many of whom must navigate unsafe routes to and from examination centers—but also disrupts their psychological preparedness and undermines the integrity of the process. WAEC, as a long-standing examination body, is expected to be a beacon of professionalism, preparedness, and efficiency. The repeated incidents of examination paper leakage are a clear indication of systemic failures in WAEC’s security measures and operations. NANS strongly believes that these lapses tarnish the credibility of our educational system and unfairly burden Nigerian students, who are already grappling with numerous challenges.
“We demand accountability, urging WAEC to identify and hold responsible all individuals or groups involved in the leakage of examination questions. WAEC must implement stricter security protocols to prevent future occurrences, leveraging technology, and enhancing staff training to safeguard the integrity of its examinations. Furthermore, WAEC must issue a public apology to all affected students and their families for the undue stress and inconvenience caused by this delay. Concrete steps must also be taken to ensure the safety of students traveling home late from examination centers, particularly those in rural areas.
“The academic future of our students must not be jeopardized by administrative inefficiencies or institutional negligence. WAEC must take immediate and decisive steps to rebuild trust and ensure that such incidents do not reoccur. NANS remains committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of Nigerian students and will not hesitate to escalate this matter if tangible actions are not taken promptly.’
