The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has now joined the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in what appears to be a fashionable decline in integrity. The only remaining hope among Nigeria’s major examining bodies is the National Examinations Council (NECO) — the sole body yet to experience the “technical glitches” that have forced resits or triggered score revisions in recent times.
Like a prophecy fulfilled, many stakeholders anticipated WAEC’s move almost as soon as this year’s results were released. The unusually poor performance in English Language, in particular, fueled speculation about a possible mass cancellation, a resit, or a blanket upgrade.
“What WAEC will do is prompt their system to add 20 marks or more to all English scores,” a school teacher said in jest.
Joke or not, reality proved him right. After the review, numerous students were upgraded — some from B3 to B2. The expectation was that only those who failed would be upgraded, but WAEC’s revisions swept far wider.
The poor performance in English was partly attributed to the late-night conduct of the paper in several parts of the country. Students were made to sit the subject long after scheduled hours. Following the release of the results, public anger zeroed in on WAEC.
Whether bowing to pressure from powerful stakeholders or genuinely accepting responsibility, WAEC acted quickly. But the move raises a bigger question: Has this single decision permanently dented the body’s credibility? And will candidates for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) expect the same “corrections” and put in less effort?
Stakeholders React
Julius Oregbesan, Principal, Kith and Kin Educational Schools
“In all my years, it has been rare to witness examination results being released twice. Traditionally, examination bodies either cancel, seize, or withhold results when irregularities occur.
This year has taken an unusual turn. After JAMB released its results, it admitted to computer errors and rescheduled some candidates for a retake. Now, WAEC has followed suit — releasing results, then claiming a glitch, and issuing a revised version within 24 hours.
The credibility of both JAMB and WAEC is now under scrutiny. Leaders, policymakers, and academicians must act. These bodies are entrusted with safeguarding the academic future of our youth, not gambling with their destinies. I can only hope NECO doesn’t follow this path.”
Dr. Oladoyin Odebowale, Legal Practitioner
“It is tragic! The fact that WAEC as a body has not come out to explain what went confirms the depth of our degeneracy. Nothing seems certain again. It will be difficult to vouch for the integrity of the examinations conducted by WAEC again. First, it was Jamb.
These children are being punished for our ineptitude and criminality. As usual, there will be no consequences. Nobody has been called to explain the disgraceful conduct of Jamb. None will be invited on this current embarrassment, too. The standard measure of performance seems to be revenue generation these days. The glory has departed.”
Qudus Ibrahim, Education Commentator
“Call it the 8th wonder of the world.
Let the world search no further for the 8th wonder — come to Nigeria, where over a million scripts are graded and results revised in just three days. No feat in history comes close.
“But what exactly did WAEC do in those three days? Was it a meticulous backend audit or just a mass score bump? The meteoric rise from 38.2% to 62.9% suggests the latter.
“This casts doubt on validity and reliability. The Class of 2025 has now been issued two different results.
“The serialisation of some subjects was a step toward curbing malpractice, but a proper mock test could have revealed vulnerabilities earlier. In reality, WAEC wasn’t assessing students — it was assessing its own system, and the system failed.
Students will now believe that loud public outcry is enough to alter bad results. Worse still, some may wonder if their scripts were ever marked. Rival bodies like NECO may see a surge in enrolment.
When universities lost faith in JAMB, they introduced Post-JAMB. Now that WAEC is facing a credibility crisis, who knows what might follow?”
This incident has moved WAEC from a position of trust to one of suspicion. Whether it can rebuild its credibility will determine if Nigeria’s public examination system retains its last shred of legitimacy.
