The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the National Assembly to investigate recent failures in the 2025 UTME and WASSCE exams. The NBA wants officials of JAMB and WAEC to be held responsible for their actions, which caused serious distress for students and their families across Nigeria.
On May 9, JAMB released the 2025 UTME results. Immediately, students protested, insisting their scores were not accurate. Many said they had performed better than their reported results.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, had earlier admitted on April 14 that “technical errors” affected the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres in Lagos and the South-East. The problem was linked to a faulty server update that failed to upload students’ responses during the first three days of the exam.
JAMB rescheduled the exams for affected candidates, but students were only given 48 hours’ notice. Many parents said their children were not ready, while some candidates could not attend due to the short notice.
WAEC Faces Backlash Over Delayed English Exam
On May 28, thousands of WASSCE candidates waited hours to write their English Language Paper 2. The paper, scheduled for 9 a.m., started as late as 11:45 p.m. in some areas.
Some students were forced to write the exam in the dark, using candlelight and phone flashlights. The delay led to outrage from parents and students nationwide.
WAEC later said the late start was due to a leaked question paper. The body said the delay was necessary to stop exam malpractice.
The exam council later issued a public apology, asking students, parents, and schools to forgive the inconvenience. But for many, the damage was already done.
NBA Slams Exam Bodies, Calls for Action
In a statement issued on May 31, the NBA condemned the actions of both JAMB and WAEC. The statement, signed by its President and Secretary, said: “It is very concerning that a new trend of impunity is now emerging from institutions that ought to be leading the way for a better Nigeria.”
The NBA insisted that the right to education is guaranteed in the Constitution and that every student deserves dignity and respect.
The statement added: “The conduct of examinations under shambolic and inclement conditions is unacceptable as it will affect the students’ preparation for the examinations.”
It added that: “No sane human being should be compelled to sit for an examination that was advertised to be conducted in the daytime but ended up being done in the night.”
The NBA said WAEC breached students’ contractual rights and constitutional freedoms. They stressed that any exam conducted at night without proper lighting or security is already compromised.
NBA Urges National Assembly to Act
The NBA called on the Senate and House of Representatives to form a joint committee to investigate both JAMB and WAEC. It warned that failure to punish those responsible would lead to more chaos in future exams.
The statement concluded that JAMB and WAEC had failed in their duties, and their actions had embarrassed the country. It urged lawmakers to protect the rights of Nigerian students and uphold educational standards.
Katsina Government Petitions WAEC for English Paper Cancellation
Also on May 31, the Katsina State Government asked WAEC to cancel the May 28 English Language Paper 2. Commissioner Zainab Musa-Musawa delivered the state’s petition to the WAEC office in Katsina. The petition, signed by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, called the situation unacceptable.
According to the petition, many students in Katsina did not write the exam until midnight. Some returned home in the early hours, physically and mentally exhausted. Students had to use torchlights and candles to complete the paper, which raised safety concerns.
The state said the disruption seriously affected students’ performance and mental well-being. It urged WAEC to take full responsibility and provide a fair solution for the affected students.
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