The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council to halt the planned rollout of Computer-Based Testing for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination. The decision came after lawmakers adopted a motion of urgent public importance raised by Kelechi Wogu during Thursday’s plenary.
Wogu, who titled his motion “Need for Intervention to Avert Massive Failure in the Proposed 2026 WAEC Computer-Based Examination,” cautioned that pushing ahead with the plan could expose students to widespread failure and needless anxiety. He argued that the present state of infrastructure in many schools makes the shift unrealistic.
He noted that the ministry appears committed to the digital examination format despite objections from the National Union of Teachers and heads of schools. More than 70 percent of candidates sit for WAEC outside major cities, where many schools have no functional computer laboratories, reliable electricity, internet access, or trained ICT teachers. He also pointed to the technical problems that affected the 2025 results portal as further proof that the system is not ready.
According to him, the CBT model requires well-equipped halls with stable power and internet connectivity, conditions that most schools cannot meet at the moment.
To tackle the gap, the House directed the Ministry of Education and the state governments to make budgetary provisions from 2026 to 2029 for recruiting computer teachers, constructing ICT centres, installing internet facilities, and providing backup power. Lawmakers further resolved that the CBT model should not be introduced before the 2030 academic year.
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The motion received unanimous support. The House instructed it’s Committees on Basic Education, Digital and Information Technology, Examination Bodies, and Labour to engage relevant stakeholders and submit a report within four weeks.
CBT was introduced in Nigeria to curb examination malpractice and improve efficiency. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board first adopted the system in 2013 and conducted the country’s first fully computer-based examination in 2015. Since then, NECO and NABTEB have adopted limited digital features in their own assessments, though infrastructure problems continue to slow wider implementation.
WAEC announced in 2024 that it would begin full computer-based examinations in 2026, a declaration that drew mixed reactions. Parents, teachers, and education unions argued that most schools lack the facilities needed for such a transition, while advocates said digital testing would enhance transparency and modernize the sector.
In a readiness checklist released in September, WAEC stated that each school must provide 250 functional laptops with 10 percent backups, a server capable of supporting 250 systems at once, and a stable Local Area Network. Other requirements include uninterrupted electricity, air conditioning, CCTV cameras, proper lighting, a generator of at least 40kVA, and a holding room for candidates.
