The Oyo State Government has officially expressed "deep concern and sympathy" for students, parents, and guardians affected by the ongoing logistical failures plaguing the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). This follows reports of candidates in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun states being forced to sit for papers including Government and Agricultural Science well into the night.
A Systemic Breakdown
The disruption, which has sparked nationwide outrage, reached a breaking point this week. On Thursday, June 4,examination materials for papers scheduled for the afternoon reportedly did not reach many centres until 6:30 p.m.Consequently, some candidates in areas like Ogbomoso and Saki were still conducting their examinations after 8:00 p.m.,in many cases under poor lighting conditions, including mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, condemned the situation,stating that the delays were contrary to the approved WAEC timetable and exposed candidates to "avoidable stress,anxiety, and risks."
Growing Backlash and Student Safety
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has slammed the situation as "appalling, condemnable, and dangerous." NANS President Akinteye Azeez argued that keeping students at examination centres until late at night particularly in the South-West region, which has recently faced security challenges is a gross violation of students' rights to safety and dignity.
Parents and stakeholders have been vocal on social media, highlighting:
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Severe Delays: Examinations scheduled for 2:00 p.m. starting as late as 9:00 p.m.
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Material Shortages: Reports from multiple centres indicate that question papers were provided in insufficient quantities, forcing some schools to tear question booklets to ensure all candidates had something to work with.
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Operational Negligence: Despite prior assurances from WAEC regarding a "hitch-free" examination, these repeated failures have led to accusations of systemic negligence.
WAEC's Position
While WAEC has previously attributed operational challenges to anti-malpractice measures and logistics, the Council’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, has yet to provide an official response to the specific complaints of late-night examinations during this current week of the 2026 exercise. Some observers have linked the recent disruptions to the tragic death of three WAEC logistics officials in a road accident on the Gombe-Yola highway earlier this week.
The Oyo State Government has indicated it is engaging with WAEC’s zonal leadership to demand an immediate rectification of these logistical hurdles to ensure the safety and welfare of all candidates for the remainder of the WASSCE, which is scheduled to conclude on June 19, 2026.
