The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education are facing a N100 billion lawsuit following allegations of subjecting students to harsh and unsafe conditions during the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos by prominent human rights lawyer Evans Ufeli, accuses both WAEC and the ministry of gross negligence.
According to the suit, several students were reportedly forced to write the English Language examination as late as 8 pm under poor lighting and in environments considered insecure and unfit for academic activity.
Ufeli, acting on behalf of the affected students, described the situation as unconstitutional and degrading, arguing that it posed significant risks to the mental health and academic performance of minors.
Citing sections of the 1999 Constitution, the Child Rights Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the legal practitioner is demanding several remedies, including a re-sit of the affected papers, a public apology, and a comprehensive overhaul of WAEC’s logistics and contingency planning.
He contends that the exam body and the ministry failed in their constitutional duties to safeguard the dignity and welfare of students during a national examination, leading to widespread psychological distress and disrupted learning outcomes.
The suit calls for N100 billion in general and exemplary damages to compensate students for the trauma and rights violations they endured.
“This case goes beyond a single exam paper—it is about securing the future of our children,” Ufeli stated.
“No agency of the State has the right to compromise the well-being and safety of students through sheer administrative incompetence.”
The legal challenge also draws support from independent reports by the National Assembly, civil society organisations, and various media outlets, which documented cases of delayed exam materials, poor coordination, and chaos at numerous exam centres nationwide.
A hearing date for the case has not yet been scheduled.
