A Port Harcourt-based journalist and public affairs analyst, Dr. Dormene Mbea, has called for the resignation or immediate removal of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Head of the National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. Amos Dangut, over the widespread delays and logistical failures that forced thousands of candidates to sit for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) late into the evening.
In a statement issued on Friday, June 5, 2026, Dr. Mbea described the development as a clear demonstration of gross incompetence and administrative failure, arguing that senior officials responsible for the conduct of public examinations must be held accountable for subjecting students to avoidable hardship and unsafe conditions.
According to him, it was unacceptable that in a period marked by growing insecurity and incidents of school kidnappings across the country, examination authorities could not guarantee the timely and seamless conduct of examinations for secondary school students.
Dr. Mbea expressed particular concern for candidates in rural communities who were reportedly forced to continue writing examinations after dark without electricity or adequate lighting facilities.
He noted that while some students in urban centres managed to rely on torchlights, solar lamps and mobile phone flashlights, many candidates in remote communities were left to struggle under extremely difficult conditions.
“It is heartbreaking that children who left their homes as early as 6:30 a.m. were kept waiting in examination centres until nightfall because of poor planning by those entrusted with managing the nation’s education system,” he said.
The scholar argued that the delays placed enormous physical, emotional and academic strain on candidates, many of whom were expected to remain focused after spending several hours waiting for examination materials.
According to him, such circumstances could adversely affect students’ performance and ultimately undermine the credibility and fairness of the examination process.
Dr. Mbea further criticized what he described as the glaring disparity between the experiences of children from privileged backgrounds and those from disadvantaged communities.
“While the children of top government officials and education administrators sit for examinations in safe and conducive environments, many poor students in rural areas are left to battle darkness, fatigue and unsafe surroundings. Some of these children are exposed to reptiles, insects and other dangers while attempting to write examinations under inhumane and unsuitable conditions,” he stated.
He maintained that it would be unjust for examination authorities to assess students solely on their academic performance without considering the severe challenges imposed on them by systemic failures.
“The system failed these students before the examination even began. It is unfair to subject children to such frustration and then turn around to judge them solely by the outcome of the examination,” he added.
Dr. Mbea also called on the National Assembly to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the recurring examination logistics failures and exercise its oversight responsibilities over agencies within the education sector.
He urged lawmakers to scrutinize the utilization of budgetary allocations made to education authorities and examination bodies, questioning why such incidents continue to occur despite the substantial public funds appropriated for their operations.
“The National Assembly must demand answers. Nigerians deserve to know how resources allocated to the education sector are being utilized when examination bodies still cannot deliver materials on time or conduct examinations in a manner befitting a modern nation,” he said.
The journalist insisted that accountability remains the only way to restore public confidence in the nation’s examination system, stressing that officials responsible for the latest debacle should either resign honourably or be relieved of their positions.
He described the incident as a national embarrassment and called for urgent reforms to prevent a recurrence, insisting that Nigerian students deserve examination conditions that are safe, fair, dignified and conducive to academic success.
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