WAEC Assures Hitch-Free 2026 WASSCE as NASU Protest Enters Day Two

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reassured candidates, parents, school owners, and other stakeholders that the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will continue smoothly despite the ongoing nationwide protest by members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).

The assurance came amid growing concerns over a three-day industrial action embarked upon by NASU members across WAEC offices nationwide over allegations of management high-handedness, illegal recruitment practices, welfare concerns, and controversial pay policies.

The protest, which began on Wednesday at WAEC’s national headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, reportedly spread to several regional and state offices across the country, raising fears about possible disruptions to the ongoing examinations.

However, WAEC, in a statement signed by the Acting Head of Public Affairs for the Head of National Office, Moyosola F. Adesina, said the Council had already activated contingency plans to ensure that the 2026 WASSCE proceeds without interruption.

According to the examination body, discussions are currently ongoing with the aggrieved workers to address the issues raised by the union.

“While we are concerned about the rights of unions and staff to express their grievances, we are also committed to ensuring seamless and smooth conduct of the ongoing examination,” the statement read.

WAEC explained that some of the issues raised by NASU had either been misunderstood or misrepresented.

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The Council clarified that the recent adjustment in examination days was a direct consequence of the streamlining of WAEC subjects from 76 to 38, as well as the adoption of a hybrid mode of examination conduct.

It also dismissed allegations of arbitrary dismissals and punitive sanctions against workers, insisting that all disciplinary and career progression matters are handled strictly in line with the provisions of the WAEC Staff Handbook and relevant statutory regulations.

On the controversial recruitment of contract staff, WAEC said the engagement of contract Examination Officers and Assistant Examination Officers was introduced to help manage increasing workloads and improve operational efficiency across the sub-region.

“The engagement of contract staff is a strategic operational measure aimed at enhancing efficiency and ensuring the seamless conduct of the Council’s processes,” WAEC stated.

The Council further urged members of the public to disregard rumours and misinformation capable of creating panic among candidates and parents.

WAEC assured Nigerians that the integrity, credibility, and smooth conduct of the examination remain its top priority.

The Council also reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to delivering reliable educational assessments to students across Nigeria and other member countries, noting that it has sustained that mandate for over 74 years.

Meanwhile, NASU insisted that the protest would continue following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to WAEC management.

In a letter signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the union accused the management of unilateral decision-making, breach of seniority principles, suspension of staff upgrade programmes, and imposition of a minimum net pay policy without proper consultation.

The union also faulted the constitution of investigative panels without union involvement and expressed concerns over recent changes to the structure of the WASSCE examination.

NASU disclosed that its branches nationwide unanimously agreed during an online meeting to proceed with the industrial action after negotiations with management allegedly failed to produce satisfactory outcomes.

The union warned that the protest could be escalated if the management fails to address its demands.

Despite the labour dispute, WAEC maintained that the ongoing 2026 WASSCE remains stable and uninterrupted nationwide.

The Council disclosed that nearly two million candidates from more than 24,000 secondary schools are currently participating in the examination across Nigeria.

WAEC Assures Hitch-Free 2026 WASSCE as NASU Protest Enters Day Two

Edo Varsity Suspends 27 Medical Students Over Exam Fraud

The management of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved the rustication of 27 medical students over allegations of examination misconduct and impersonation in the institution’s College of Medicine.

The affected students, drawn from the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Anatomy, and Human Physiology, are in the 300, 400, and 500 levels.

The university stated that the disciplinary action will take effect from the 2025/2026 academic session, with the students handed rustication periods ranging from two to four semesters, depending on the severity of their offences.

The decision followed recommendations from the Mobile Disciplinary Committee of the College of Medicine for the 2024/2025 academic session, which investigated cases of alleged examination malpractice and impersonation during professional examinations.

The Registrar of the university, Mrs. Oluwayomi Agbebaku, confirmed the development in an official statement released on Wednesday, explaining that the affected students were found culpable of various forms of examination misconduct, including impersonation and other violations of academic regulations.

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She added that the sanctions were necessary to uphold academic integrity, maintain discipline, and preserve the credibility of professional training in the medical field.

The university further stated that the rusticated students will not be allowed to participate in any internal or external examinations until they have fully served their punishment.

It also explained that some of the students face additional academic restrictions, including non-upgrading of certain courses, while the result of at least one student will not be processed until completion of the rustication period.

However, the institution confirmed that one student was cleared of wrongdoing and exonerated after investigations, with his mobile phone returned following a stern warning.

The management of AAU reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice in Nigerian universities, particularly within sensitive professional programmes such as medicine and allied health sciences.

It stressed that it will continue to strengthen monitoring mechanisms during examinations and enforce strict disciplinary actions to deter future cases of impersonation and academic fraud.

The development highlights ongoing concerns about examination malpractice in Nigerian tertiary institutions, where authorities have increasingly adopted strict sanctions to protect the integrity of academic qualifications.

Education stakeholders continue to call for stronger supervision, improved invigilation systems, and stricter enforcement of examination rules to curb recurring cases of cheating and impersonation.

Edo Varsity Suspends 27 Medical Students Over Exam Fraud

NUT Rejects UTME Waiver for NCE Admission

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has rejected the Federal Government’s decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), warning that the policy could significantly undermine the quality of teacher education in Nigeria.

The position was expressed by the NUT National President, Audu Titus Amba, during a teacher sensitisation programme organised by 21st Century in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in Abuja.

Amba said the policy reflects a worrying trend where Colleges of Education in Nigeria are increasingly becoming a second-choice destination for candidates who fail to secure admission into universities, rather than attracting top-performing students into the teaching profession.

According to him, teaching should be reserved for some of the most academically strong candidates, stressing that lowering entry standards could have long-term consequences on the country’s basic education system.

“Why can’t we now say that anyone going to the College of Education to become a teacher tomorrow must be among the highest-scoring candidates in UTME?

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“Colleges of Education are supposed to have the best candidates, but unfortunately, when people fail to secure university admission, they are told to go and manage NCE,” he said.

The controversy follows the Federal Government’s recent policy announcement at the JAMB policy meeting, where the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that applicants with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects would no longer be required to sit for UTME before gaining admission into Colleges of Education.

Government officials argue that the reform is aimed at expanding access to teacher training programmes in Nigeria, reducing admission pressure on universities, and addressing the shortage of qualified teachers nationwide.

However, the NUT insists that while access to education is important, maintaining high academic and professional standards in teacher preparation must remain a priority.

Amba warned that weakening admission requirements could result in producing underqualified teachers, which may ultimately affect the quality of learning outcomes in primary and secondary schools across the country.

At the same event, stakeholders including the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) highlighted the need for continuous professional development to prepare teachers for a rapidly evolving education system driven by technology and digital learning.

TRCN Registrar, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, stressed that modern teachers must be digitally competent, innovative, and professionally trained to meet global standards in education delivery.

She noted that teacher training must go beyond certification to include continuous capacity building, particularly in digital literacy in education.

The Minister of Education, represented by Dr. Iyabo Ali, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving teacher quality through ongoing reforms and training initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education sector.

Other speakers at the programme, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas (represented by Dr. Mary Aba) and Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, called for stronger collaboration among education stakeholders to improve standards and learning conditions.

Senator Moro expressed concern over the deteriorating state of public education, warning that many schools in Nigeria still lack adequate infrastructure and conducive learning environments for effective teaching and learning.

Education analysts say the debate reflects a long-standing tension in Nigeria’s education policy between expanding access to teacher training and maintaining strict academic standards in education reform in Nigeria.

While the Federal Government maintains that the UTME waiver is designed to encourage more candidates into the teaching profession and address staffing shortages, critics like the NUT insist that quality must not be compromised.

NUT Rejects UTME Waiver for NCE Admission