WAEC’s Big Plan for Computer Exams Gets a Major Reality Check from Lawmakers.
By: Abudu Olalekan
Okay, let’s talk about the West African Examinations Council. You know, WAEC. They got this big, shiny new plan. They wanna go all-in on tech, ditching the old paper-and-pen method for something more modern. Computer-Based Testing. CBT. Sounds great, right? Very 21st century. Less malpractice, faster results. The future is here!
But hold on. A lot of people in the National Assembly, they’re pumping the brakes. Hard. They had a meeting with WAEC’s top boss, Dr. Amos Dangut, and let me tell you, the vibes were… cautious. Real cautious. They’re not saying “no.” Not exactly. But they are saying, “You better be very, very careful.”
The whole thing is about the 2026 rollout. WAEC’s guy, Dr. Dangut, he was there, making all the right promises. He said the new system would be for everybody, no matter where they live. That they’d start with just the objective questions, you know, the multiple choice ones, before moving to the theory and practical parts later. It sounded like a solid plan on paper. A phased approach. Logical.
But you know how things are in this country. The lawmakers, they weren’t just listening to the plan. They were looking at the reality. And the reality is a little bit… messy. They started talking about things like “infrastructural deficits.” And “digital literacy.” Big, serious words that basically mean: “Most of our schools don’t have enough light, not to talk of computers and good internet.” It’s a massive problem. A big, big headache.
Senator Ekong Sampson, he’s the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, and he didn’t beat around the bush. He warned them straight up. He said rushing this thing nationwide could “create more problems than it solves.” He’s right. Just imagine it. Millions of students, all of them trying to take this exam at the same time, across a country with unreliable power. What if the network fails? What if the generator goes off? What if the computer freezes? Yikes. The thought alone is scary.
Then you have Senator Victor Umeh. He was even more direct. He said there would be a “national outcry across the country” if something went wrong. He raised a good point, too. We’re talking about the future of millions of Nigerian kids. Students who have completed secondary education are supposed to be smart enough. But what if they’ve never touched a computer? What then? He called for fairness. For inclusivity. He suggested that for a start, WAEC should let students choose. Let them take the exam either on the computer or the traditional way, with a pencil and paper. It’s a brilliant idea. A way to give the kids a chance. He was stressing that we have to be prepared. Not just a little prepared. Adequately.
A House of Representatives member, Oboku Oforji, also chimed in. He talked about “proper groundwork” before the 2026 deadline. His idea was a good one, too. He said the government needs to build at least one fully functional CBT centre in every single local government area in Nigeria. All 774 of them. Now, that’s a big ask, but it makes so much sense. It would bridge the digital divide. It would give kids in the villages the same shot as the ones in the city. It’s only fair. And to make sure everyone is on the same page, he mentioned that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, is scheduled to appear before them to explain everything. The pressure is on.
Other lawmakers agreed. Their message was consistent. Don’t just roll this out everywhere at once. Test it first. Do a pilot program. Start with the cities where they have basic facilities. Where the lights actually stay on. Where there’s internet. Then, when you’re absolutely, positively sure it works, you can think about expanding it nationwide.
Of course, WAEC’s Dr. Dangut tried to reassure them. He promised they were committed to “equity, transparency, and fairness.” He said they were already mapping out centers in every local government. He talked about how CBT would help fight exam malpractice and speed up results. All good points. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, also made a public promise: “no child will be left behind in this digital transition.”
Even the principals’ associations and private school owners gave their two cents. They all agreed the idea was a good one. Necessary, even. But they also agreed with the lawmakers: without proper preparation and infrastructure, it’s a huge risk. A risk they just can’t take.
So what’s the bottom line? The National Assembly isn’t against the idea. Far from it. They know digital is the way to go. But they are telling WAEC to pump the brakes. To slow down. To make sure every single “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed before they jeopardize the future of millions of Nigerian students. Because if they rush it and there’s a glitch, a small little mistake, it could trigger a nationwide crisis. A massive outcry. And nobody wants that. The ball is in WAEC’s court now. They’ve been warned. Very, very clearly.
