The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly criticized the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) following a last-minute delay of the English Language paper in the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
In a statement released on Thursday by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adeyemi Samson Ajasa, NANS condemned the decision to shift the exam time from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, calling it a serious risk to student safety—especially for those in rural communities.
“This absurdly late rescheduling endangers the lives of students who must travel unsafe routes after dark,” Ajasa said. “The failure of WAEC should not be placed on the shoulders of innocent students.”
The delay reportedly stemmed from a leakage of examination questions, an issue NANS says reflects deeper systemic failures within WAEC’s operations.
“A Shocking Lack of Professionalism”
Under the leadership of Comrade Olushola Oladoja, NANS expressed outrage at what it described as WAEC’s “shocking level of insensitivity” and “gross disregard” for student welfare. The association argued that the late timing disrupted students’ mental preparedness and compromised the credibility of the exam process.
“WAEC is expected to uphold professionalism and reliability,” the statement continued. “Frequent leaks and logistical lapses damage the integrity of the entire educational system.”
NANS’ Demands
NANS issued several demands to WAEC:
-
Public apology to affected students and their families.
-
Identification and prosecution of those responsible for the question leak.
-
Improved security protocols, including use of technology and better staff training.
-
Safety measures for students traveling from exam centers, especially in rural areas.
The group emphasized that the academic future of Nigerian students should not be threatened by administrative errors or institutional negligence.
“If WAEC fails to act decisively, NANS will not hesitate to escalate the matter further,” Ajasa warned.
