Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has sharply criticised the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over a disturbing incident where students were made to sit for their WASSCE exams in complete darkness, describing the situation as a “national disgrace.”
According to a report by Vanguard News, Atiku expressed outrage over the poor examination conditions, calling the incident a stark reflection of systemic failure in Nigeria’s education sector.
In a public statement, Atiku declared:
“This is not merely an unfortunate incident, it is a damning indictment of our systemic failure to uphold the most basic standards in public education. It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and utterly indefensible that in 2025, our children are forced to write critical national exams in pitch darkness like second-class citizens.”
He emphasized that the responsibility for a conducive examination environment lies with the authorities, stating:
“Examination preparedness is a shared responsibility between students and the examination authorities. In this case, it is glaringly evident that the latter has failed spectacularly in their duty.”
Atiku further demanded that WAEC conduct a retake of the compromised paper in all affected centres, warning that failure to do so would amount to grave injustice.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has summoned WAEC to appear within 24 hours, amid mounting public concern over the poorly conducted exams.
Adding to the growing criticism, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the delay in the English Language examination, describing it as a violation of students’ rights and an embarrassment to the country.
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Atiku concluded by calling for a long-term solution:
“Going forward, it is imperative that relevant authorities establish and enforce minimum environmental and infrastructural standards for all high-stakes national examinations.”
The incident continues to generate nationwide outrage, with many citizens questioning the competence and readiness of WAEC to handle future examinations.
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