WAEC Exam Failure in darkness draws Atiku’s fury, House summons, and NANS condemnation over exam chaos.
Students Write WAEC Exam in the Dark: A National Shame Unfolds
WAEC Exam Failure in darkness. It’s a headline that sounds almost surreal yet, it’s a grim reality millions of Nigerians have just witnessed.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar didn’t mince words.
He called it what it is: “a national disgrace.” And he’s not alone.
Lawmakers, student unions, and parents across Nigeria are seething with rage, calling out systemic neglect that left students sitting for their WASSCE (West African Senior School Certificate Examination) in pitch darkness.
This controversy has quickly escalated beyond a single event.
In fact, it’s now a full-blown crisis that exposes deep-rooted cracks in Nigeria’s education system cracks that can no longer be ignored.
“A Damning Indictment” Atiku Abubakar
For Atiku Abubakar, the incident isn’t just an unfortunate anomaly. Rather, it reflects a much broader institutional failure.
“This is not merely an unfortunate incident,” he declared, “it is a damning indictment of our systemic failure to uphold the most basic standards in public education.”
In scenes that shocked the nation, several exam centres reportedly went dark due to power outages.
Students were made to write crucial exams using candles, phone flashlights, and whatever glimmer they could muster.
In 2025, in Africa’s largest economy, this should not be happening.
“It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and utterly indefensible,” Atiku said, “that our children are writing critical national exams in pitch darkness like second-class citizens.”
Atiku demanded that all affected students must retake the compromised papers.
He warned that anything less would be a grave injustice.
Consequently, his call resonates with parents and education advocates who say students must not bear the brunt of institutional neglect.
WAEC Under Fire: Reps Committee Issues Ultimatum
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has now entered the fray.
Led by Chairman Oboku Oforji, the committee issued a 24-hour ultimatum to WAEC (West African Examinations Council) to explain itself.
The committee had earlier invited WAEC to provide clarity on the multiple irregularities reported during the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE),
especially the English Language paper, which was allegedly delayed due to a leak.
WAEC, however, failed to appear, citing their involvement in ongoing exams.
“Ironically,” said Oforji, “this is the very reason we are asking them to appear. The examinations have been riddled with serious irregularities.”
According to the committee, students in various parts of the country were forced to write exams as late as midnight.
They described this phenomenon as not only traumatic but also dangerous. As a result, the committee insisted that WAEC must appear without fail and account for the chaos.
NANS Joins the Chorus: “Enough is Enough”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also came out swinging.
In a sharply worded statement, the student body criticized WAEC’s conduct, citing insecurity, poor planning, and a clear lack of concern for students’ welfare.
“The decision to hold examinations at such late hours not only endangers students,” said Adeyemi Ajasa, National PRO of NANS,
“but also disrupts their psychological preparedness and undermines the integrity of the examination process.”
NANS condemned the 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. delay for the English Language exam, which reportedly occurred because of a leaked paper.
The body called out WAEC’s lack of adequate security measures, describing the recurring leaks as a systemic failure.
Parents React: Fear, Frustration, and Fury
Across the country, parents are airing their frustrations with a system they feel has abandoned their children.
From Lagos to Maiduguri, complaints have poured in some via social media, others directly to local education boards.
Many shared images of exam halls illuminated only by flashlights.
A mother in Kaduna described how her 17-year-old daughter returned home after midnight from her examination centre.
“I was shaking with fear. Anything could have happened to her on that dark road,” she said.
In rural communities, the situation was even more dire. Because of the lack of electricity, unsafe roads, and zero transportation support, students had to walk home alone, often in dangerous conditions.
Clearly, the risk extended beyond academics it became a matter of safety.
Read Also:
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Systemic Issues: More Than a Power Failure
The WAEC exam failure in darkness isn’t about one failed generator or a missed logistics detail.
Instead, it points to structural flaws that have long plagued Nigeria’s public education system flaws that continue to deepen.
Education analysts argue that the problem doesn’t lie solely with WAEC.
It also involves federal and state education ministries, school administrators, and local government councils, many of which fail to provide even the most basic infrastructure required for learning.
“It’s not just about exams,” said an education consultant in Abuja.
“It’s about the message we send to our youth that their future isn’t worth planning for.”
What’s Next? Retakes, Reforms, and Responsibility
Now, the calls for the re-examination of affected papers are growing louder.
Atiku Abubakar’s demand has set a precedent, and many stakeholders, including lawmakers and education watchdogs, are echoing the same.
More importantly, there’s a growing consensus that Nigeria needs a standardized policy on examination environment readiness.
Experts say this should include:
Minimum lighting and infrastructure requirements.
Emergency power backups at every exam centre.
Timely transport arrangements for students in remote areas.
Clear security protocols to prevent leakage and cheating.
WAEC’s Track Record: An Institution Under Scrutiny
WAEC has long been a respected institution in West Africa, with its certifications recognised internationally.
However, this year’s crisis has cast a shadow on that reputation.
Repeated leaks, scheduling mishaps, and now the failure to ensure basic exam conditions have triggered widespread doubt.
As a result, educational experts are warning that WAEC risks losing public trust unless it enacts significant reforms and quickly.
“We are watching the slow erosion of one of our most trusted educational institutions,” said a university lecturer in Port Harcourt.
The Bigger Picture: Education as a National Priority
This incident is a wake-up call. Nigeria’s youth, its most valuable asset, are bearing the brunt of systemic neglect.
With unemployment rising and global competitiveness tightening, education must be treated not as a political talking point but as a strategic national priority.
Experts urge that Nigeria must:
Invest in infrastructure across all public schools.
Strengthen examination security and logistics.
Train education administrators for better preparedness.
Hold institutions accountable for failures.
A Call to Action: The Future Is Watching
What happened during the WASSCE exams is unacceptable.
Nevertheless, it must not be the end of the story.
In fact, it can become a turning point a moment where Nigeria, at last, decides to fix its broken education system.
“We cannot continue like this,” said Atiku. “If we value our children’s future, we must act now.”
Let the outrage be the beginning of reform. Let the embarrassment birth accountability.
And most importantly, let the voices of students often drowned in silence be heard, respected, and protected.
Nigeria Must Choose Neglect or Renewal?
WAEC’s failures this exam season are a symptom of larger national dysfunction.
And while blame can be passed around, the truth remains: our children deserve better.
Therefore, parents, students, lawmakers, and educators must now push not only for retakes but also for lasting change.
Let this moment mark the start of a renewed national commitment to education.
One where no child ever has to write an exam in the dark again.
What do you think? Should WAEC be restructured or sanctioned?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
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