HURIWA Condemns WAEC Over Night Exams, Cites Student Safety Risks

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over reports that candidates sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were compelled to write papers late into the night in some parts of the country.

The group described the development as unsafe, unjustifiable and a violation of students’ rights, warning that it exposes minors to avoidable security and health risks.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said the recurring delays in the conduct of examinations reflected deep-rooted administrative and logistical failures that must be urgently addressed.

It noted that students in several examination centres were reportedly kept waiting for hours and later forced to sit for papers as late as 10 p.m. or beyond, in conditions the group described as unsafe and unacceptable.

“The disturbing reports that students in several examination centres across Nigeria were forced to remain in schools until 10 p.m. and beyond to write crucial examination papers amount to a grave violation of the rights and welfare of Nigerian children,” the statement said.

HURIWA said the situation was even more troubling given Nigeria’s current security environment, where incidents of kidnapping and violent crime remain widespread across several regions.

According to the group, compelling students, teachers and parents to move under such conditions at night places them in unnecessary danger and undermines public confidence in the examination system.

“The safety implications are particularly troubling. Nigeria is currently battling widespread insecurity… It is therefore irresponsible and reckless for any institution to create conditions that compel students, teachers and parents to travel late at night after examination exercises,” the group added.

HURIWA further argued that the right to education must include protection of dignity, safety and mental well-being, stressing that prolonged waiting periods and fatigue negatively affect students’ performance and psychological stability.

It said a candidate prepared to write an examination in the afternoon cannot be expected to perform optimally after hours of delay and exhaustion.

The rights organisation recalled that similar incidents had occurred in previous examination cycles, questioning whether WAEC had taken any meaningful steps to address the recurring challenge.

HURIWA therefore called on WAEC to provide a clear explanation for the repeated disruptions and to urgently implement reforms that would prevent a recurrence.

The group also urged the Federal Ministry of Education to launch an independent investigation into the operational lapses affecting the conduct of WASSCE in Nigeria, insisting that accountability must follow where negligence is established.

It further called on the National Assembly Committees on Education to summon WAEC officials to explain the situation and outline corrective measures.

“The future of Nigerian children must never be sacrificed on the altar of administrative inefficiency,” HURIWA warned, adding that examination bodies must prioritise safety, orderliness and fairness in their operations.

The association reaffirmed its support for parents, teachers and students demanding accountability, stressing that urgent reforms are needed to restore confidence in the examination process and protect vulnerable candidates.