The National Assembly has told WAEC to slow down. Plans to roll out Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 WASSCE have triggered heated debate in Abuja, with lawmakers warning that any glitch could ruin the future of millions of Nigerian students.
WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, had assured senators and representatives on Tuesday that the council was ready to take the leap, starting with objective questions before expanding to theory and practicals.
But the lawmakers weren’t convinced.
Senator Ekong Sampson, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, cautioned that rushing the project “could create more problems than it solves.
Senator Victor Umeh was even more direct: There will be a national outcry. If there’s a glitch, Nigeria must be very careful. Whatever we want to do, we must prepare adequately to ensure it delivers a positive outcome.
Umeh argued that WAEC’s sheer candidate volume dwarfs JAMB’s, warning that many students especially those without computer skills could be disenfranchised. He suggested a hybrid approach that combines CBT with the traditional paper method.
In the House of Representatives, Oboku Oforji (Bayelsa) echoed similar fears. He urged the government to establish at least one CBT centre in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, stressing that without such groundwork, rural students would be left behind.
Other lawmakers proposed piloting the system first in cities with stable electricity, internet, and reliable infrastructure before rolling it out nationwide.
WAEC, however, insists it is ready. Dangut said centres were already being mapped in every local government area to ease access, adding that CBT would cut malpractice, speed up results, and boost credibility.
Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, also weighed in, promising: No child will be left behind in this digital transition.
Principals and private school owners backed the innovation, but they too warned against a rushed rollout.
