The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to mandate a retake of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) English Language paper.
This demand was made in a statement issued Tuesday by Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, NANS Executive Director of Administration and Planning.
NANS voiced strong concern over what it described as widespread irregularities during the conduct of the English Language examination. According to the association, the paper was reportedly compromised and poorly administered, with reports indicating that some candidates were forced to sit for the exam late into the night.
The student body said the credibility of the exam had been further called into question by the public acknowledgment of WAEC’s Head, Dr. Amos Dangut, who admitted that the late-night administration of some WASSCE papers was inconsistent with the council’s standards.
“This situation constitutes an educational injustice,” NANS stated, adding that it undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s education system and jeopardizes the future of millions of students who sat for the examination under compromised conditions.
NANS condemned what it described as the “uncoordinated and insecure conditions” under which the examination was conducted, insisting that the English Language paper must be cancelled and re-administered in line with established examination standards.
“The conduct and circumstances surrounding the paper lack the credibility required for any valid assessment,” the statement added.
The association warned that accepting results from such a flawed process would not only embarrass the examination body but also reflect poorly on Nigeria’s educational credibility.
“WAEC must avoid actions that compromise its integrity or that of the nation’s education system,” NANS said. “Policy violations, negligence, and the breach of standard procedures must not be allowed to stand.”
The group further urged WAEC to strengthen its internal processes to safeguard the confidentiality and security of examination materials. It noted that the reported leakage of English Language questions ahead of the scheduled time severely damaged public trust and must never happen again.
“We urge the Honourable Minister of Education and the Federal Government to launch a full investigation into the conduct of the English Language examination and to immediately mandate a retake,” NANS said.
“This is not only necessary to preserve academic integrity but also to restore public confidence and ensure fairness for the hardworking students across the country.”
NANS reaffirmed its commitment to defending academic excellence, transparency, and student welfare, warning that failure to act on these concerns could trigger nationwide student protests.
“We will not stand idly by while the future of our students is compromised by malpractice and systemic failure,” the statement concluded.
