The current situation involving the Nigerian Ministry of Education reveals significant challenges that jeopardize the future of students, particularly in light of persistent systemic issues.

It is noteworthy that a substantial number of candidates who participated in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have expressed intentions to pursue legal action against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) due to widespread reports of technical malfunctions and incomplete examination questions.

Prior to these protests, JAMB reported that over 1.5 million of the 1.9 million candidates who took this year’s UTME scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks. This outcome has generated considerable concern across the nation, prompting the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to assert that the high rate of failure is indicative of JAMB’s effective anti-malpractice measures.

Additionally, a recent controversy has arisen concerning the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which has denied candidates access to its results portal for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination. This denial resulted from technical issues identified during a post-release review of the results.

Moyosola Adesina, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC National Office, acknowledged the detection of glitches in the results system, leading to the temporary suspension of access to the result checker portal. Candidates who had previously viewed their results have been advised to re-check starting from Friday for updated versions.

In response to criticisms regarding its serialisation procedures for Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics, WAEC admitted that the post-release quality checks uncovered technical challenges within its backend systems. The Council issued a statement indicating its sincere regret for the technical issues disclosed during the internal review of the 2025 WASSCE results.

“As part of our efforts to curb malpractice, the Council embarked on an innovation—paper serialisation—already deployed by a national examination body. It is worth noting that this is in line with best assessment practices. The paper serialisation was carried out in Mathematics, English Language, Biology, and Economics. However, an internal post-release procedure revealed some technical bugs in the results.

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“The Council, being a responsive body that is sensitive to fairness and professionalism, has decided to urgently review and correct the technical glitches that led to the situation. As a result, access to the WASSCE SC 2025 results has been temporarily denied on the result checker portal.

“We extend our deep and sincere apologies to all affected candidates and the general public. We appreciate their patience and understanding as we work diligently to resolve this matter with transparency and urgency within the next 24 hours. On this note, candidates who have previously checked their results are advised to re-check after 24 hours from now.”

Thursday’s clarification came less than 24 hours after WAEC, via its official X handle, declared a temporary shutdown of its result portal, citing “technical issues.”

The Council has been under intense scrutiny since Monday, when the Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, revealed that only 38.32 per cent of the 1,969,313 candidates who sat the 2025 WASSCE obtained credits and above in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

The figure, the worst in a decade, sparked widespread concerns among stakeholders about the state of education, increasing exam malpractice, and readiness for a full digital transition in the conduct of national examinations.

Among those who reacted to Thursday’s development were the Nigeria Union of Teachers, the National Association of Parent-Teacher Associations of Nigeria, and the National Association of Nigerian Students.

Speaking, the National President of NAPTAN, Haruna Danjuma, said while it was commendable that WAEC accepted responsibility, he described the planned transition to full Computer-Based Testing for external exams as impracticable.

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“It is good for whoever made a mistake to acknowledge it. But this idea of moving WASSCE and NECO entirely to CBT is unrealistic,” Danjuma said.

He stressed that there were two major challenges: inadequate infrastructure and poor computer literacy levels among pupils.

“If truly we want our children to succeed in CBT, let the government at all levels provide computers in schools and ensure students become computer-literate.

“Right now, about 80 to 90 per cent of students, especially in rural areas, are not computer literate. If WAEC and NECO are going CBT in 2026, let governors start equipping schools now, maybe begin with SS2. That way, we can start seeing changes.”

However, the National Association of Nigerian Students came down hard on WAEC, accusing it of incompetence.

NANS Assistant General Secretary, Adejuwon Olatunji, faulted WAEC for failing to thoroughly test its systems before release, saying the situation had caused unnecessary psychological distress for candidates and parents.

“This incident is not just regrettable; it is a clear sign that the leadership of WAEC has failed,” Olatunji said.

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“For an exam body responsible for millions of West African students, there’s no excuse for this level of incompetence. Introducing new systems without proper testing or backup plans shows disregard for the emotional, academic, and financial impact on candidates.

“The result checker portal is not a minor tool—it’s the final step in a long academic journey. Any glitch at that stage is an unforgivable failure.”

He dismissed WAEC’s apology, demanding that those responsible be sanctioned.

“Students received the wrong results. Some couldn’t access theirs. Others were misled into thinking they had failed. And now, WAEC quietly makes corrections.

“This is about more than tech failure. It’s failed leadership, poor oversight, and no accountability. The Head of WAEC must go. One blunder too many.

“The Council withheld over 192,000 results for alleged malpractice, yet it couldn’t even get its process right. If WAEC wants to enforce integrity, it must start with itself.”

He added, “This is a call for accountability. The WAEC leadership has proven unfit to manage an institution this vital. We demand change—competent, transparent, and responsible leadership. Our education system must not be a haven for carelessness.”

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Nigerians on social media also said they patiently awaited the miracle that WAEC intended to come up with in 24 hours.

SeyiB, @SaintSeyiB wrote, “I’m curious about how they intend to justify the 24-hour ‘miracle’ of grade changes. Many parents will likely demand a review of their children’s scripts. Whatever you’re working on, ensure it’s done correctly, or you could face a year of lawsuits. Parents are upset… And not everyone would smile at any crocodile tears on national television.”

Tweeting at @peculiarpat1, PATO PATO slammed WAEC for failing to conduct its reviews and due diligence before announcing the release of the result.

He wrote, “The question is, why the haste to release results? Shouldn’t all the reviews take place before results are released? JAMB did theirs and now WAEC. If people didn’t complain, would there have been any review? Why is it that institutions often compound people’s challenges in our climate? Do all the reviews and due diligence before releasing results. There is no gain in giving our young ones unnecessary heartaches!!”

Similarly, Dum Spiro Spero, @Inv_Dos wrote, “When you marked the scripts and saw massive failure in English, were you not supposed to review it first before releasing it to the public? Bunch of incompetent officials.”

Carpe Diem, @esoonet, said officials found culpable for the glitches should be sacked.

He wrote, “If no one is held accountable, if there are no resignations by Monday, then President Bola Tinubu is not ready to hold these incompetent people strongly before they kill his dream for him.”

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Several Nigerians, including Kayode Abaniwonnda, Akabani2005 and Ade @I_am_Adedolapo_ _, described as baffling the failure of WAEC to conduct an efficient internal review of the result before announcing the result.

President of the NUT, Audu Amba, called for WAEC to return to the drawing board, noting the public outcry was justifiable, especially as many students who passed other subjects failed English Language and Mathematics.

He knocked critics blaming teachers for the mass failure, instead, he called attention to student attitude, parental involvement, government funding, and ineffective quality assurance.

“As far as the teaching profession is concerned, there is no teacher assigned to teach who will not give their best. The pride of every teacher is to pass knowledge,” Amba said.

“But the teacher also needs assistance. First, the students. Are they even willing to learn? Are today’s students ready to study? Today’s children are different. We studied by candlelight. How many students would do that today?”

On the part of parents, Amba asked, “Do they check their children’s academic performances? How many ask their children what they were taught in school? A child should know that if he doesn’t perform, his parent will follow up.”

He questioned the government’s political will to fund education to improve the learning and teaching environment, pointing to decrepit infrastructure, apart from a lack of effective monitoring by relevant government agencies.

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“Thirdly, does the government have the political will to fund education as it should? In many schools today, pupils sit on bare floors, there are no teaching materials, and classrooms are dilapidated. Teachers aren’t well cared for, and learning environments are poor.

“Some schools don’t even have chairs for teachers to mark scripts. And how effective are the Quality Assurance Departments in our ministries of education? Are they properly funded? At the end of the day, people blame the teachers. But who recruited them: The government or school proprietors?”

While commending WAEC for owning up, Amba said the Council ought to have completed its internal checks before the results were released.

“But I want to sincerely commend them for owning up. They’ve admitted to technical issues. Let’s follow up and see,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has confirmed that the glitch has been resolved.

In a statement on Thursday, Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, said the Ministry commended WAEC for its swift response, transparency, and professionalism in addressing the issue.

“Updated results will be accessible via the result checker portal within the next 24 hours. The Ministry also appreciates the patience of affected candidates and assures the public of its continued pursuit of fairness and credibility in assessment processes,” Boriowo said.

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She added that the development aligns with the Minister’s broader reform agenda, which prioritises integrity in examination bodies, especially WAEC and NECO.

Both bodies, she noted, would begin phased implementation of CBT for objective components from November 2026.

According to the Ministry, the CBT initiative aims to curb malpractice, prevent exam leakages, and restore public trust in the exam system.

“It is a necessary reform to ensure Nigerian students are assessed strictly on merit and that their certificates retain credibility both locally and internationally,” the statement added.

Additional information from PUNCH

Business magnate Femi Otedola has disclosed an incident involving former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who reportedly expressed significant anger upon being informed of a diesel scarcity affecting the nation, attributed to deregulation measures.

According to a report by Naija News, Otedola recounted this event in his upcoming publication, titled ‘Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business.’

Otedola described how President Obasanjo’s fury was directed towards him, with the President alleging that Otedola had misled him regarding the deregulation of diesel importation. This deregulation ended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) previous monopoly over the product.

As the proprietor of Zenon Petroleum, Otedola had previously assured President Obasanjo that the private sector was capable of satisfying local demand without reliance on the NNPC, which was historically selling diesel at below-market prices and receiving subsidy reimbursements from the federal government.

The government officially liberalized the diesel market in 2004, marking it as the first petroleum product to be fully exempt from subsidies, thus concluding the associated rent-seeking culture.

According to The Cable, the billionaire businessman wrote: “When President Obasanjo deregulated diesel in 2004, Zenon took an unassailable lead in the market. My opponents’ reaction was to tell the president that we’d turned the market upside down [and that the] economy was about to be brought down because there was no diesel, and Obasanjo was mad at me because he’d sought and received assurances from us that NNPC’s exit from diesel importation wouldn’t affect supply. My critics then fanned the flames by telling him there was no diesel in the country, that trucks couldn’t move and that industries were shutting down.”

He continued: “The President… called me at 2 am, shouting through the phone. ‘You’re a stupid boy! God will punish you! You persuaded me to deregulate diesel, and now there’s no diesel in the country!’ He was livid. I flew to Abuja the following day. As soon as Obasanjo saw me, he flew into a rage again. ‘What kind of rubbish is this? What kind of nonsense is this?’ He was right in my face, screaming at the top of his lungs. I allowed him to cool down, and when he stopped talking, I tried to explain the situation. ‘Baba, they’re lying to you. It’s all lies. I have six ships waiting to discharge big supplies of diesel.’”

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“I was even paying demurrage. I told the president that I was the victim of competitors’ backbiting,” he wrote, saying he asked Obasanjo to “see what they come up with next… You’ll see that it’s me who’s telling you the truth.”

Otedola said he told Obasanjo he would start advertising the availability and price of diesel on the front page of the newspapers, addressing any concerns about fair and consistent pricing.

He said: “I knew it was people in NNPC – the state monopoly, in their now – teetering positions of power, who were against deregulation – who’d been telling him these lies. They wanted to continue to import, and rake in the subsidy money.

“Obasanjo was a determined and robust president. Jealous people did not easily sway him. Once he made up his mind that someone was trustworthy and genuine, as he seemed to do about me that day, he stopped listening to the naysayers.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly contemplating the provision of an automatic nomination to former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential election, contingent upon his reengagement with the party and a more pronounced involvement in political activities.

This development was disclosed by Daniel Woyengikuro, the National Financial Secretary of the PDP, during an exclusive interview conducted in Abuja. Woyengikuro underscored Jonathan’s enduring influence within both the party and the broader political landscape of the nation, characterizing him as the national leader of the PDP.

“Is he not the best candidate for us at this moment? He is not just a former president; he is the leader of the party now. Aside from [former President Olusegun] Obasanjo, the next person in line is him. Goodluck Jonathan is the national leader of this party,” Woyengikuro said.

He confirmed that the PDP has been consulting with Jonathan and his associates, aiming to bring him back into the party’s mainstream leadership as part of a larger strategy to reposition the party and address Nigeria’s growing political and economic challenges.

“Nigeria has reached a point where we need to salvage this country — for our generation and for those to come,” Woyengikuro added. “When we talk about the Southern Presidency, someone like Goodluck Jonathan stands out.”

When asked directly if the party would consider granting Jonathan an automatic ticket, Woyengikuro responded emphatically:

“For me, that’s what I firmly stand for. You can quote me anywhere — I want him to come. An automatic ticket for him, as it stands now. Because we must salvage both this party and the nation.”

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He further asserted that Jonathan’s return would significantly reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

Woyengikuro also praised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, calling him a “vibrant leader” and a strong candidate from the South capable of bridging Nigeria’s generational divide.

“These are the two main individuals I stand for: Goodluck Jonathan and Seyi Makinde,” he concluded.

The PDP is expected to intensify its internal consultations in the coming months as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Vanguard

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially cut all ties with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the 15th Archbishop of Wales.

The decision was announced by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, who described the development as ‘an abomination’ and a serious departure from biblical truth.

The announcement came during the opening session of the 14th Church of Nigeria Conference of Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers, held on Tuesday at the Church’s national secretariat in Abuja.

With the theme ‘Called as a Watchman’, the event brought together legal minds from across the Church to discuss matters of doctrinal integrity, justice, and governance.

Primate Ndukuba delivered the keynote address titled ‘The Decade of the Reign of God: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects.’

Reacting to the Church in Wales’ elevation of a lesbian bishop, the Primate said, “We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales.”

He compared it to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church (USA), which had also led to Nigeria severing ties with that province.

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“Just as the Church of Nigeria took steps after the election of Gene Robinson in the United States, we are severing every tie and relationship with the Church of Wales,” he said.

Primate Ndukuba also criticised what he described as the growing influence of revisionist teachings within sections of the Western Church.

“These individuals have not relented from their evil agenda; rather, they have intensified it. What they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God,” he declared.

Despite cutting formal ties with the Church in Wales, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its support for orthodox Anglicans in the region through platforms such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

“We pray that the Church of God in Wales will rise up, and that the faithful among them will stand strong. We, the Church of Nigeria, alongside GAFCON, will stand with them,” Ndukuba assured.

Looking ahead, the Primate said the Church of Nigeria plans to expand its global mission, with new registrations underway in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.

“We feel that the Lord is calling us back to Europe for mission,” he said.

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The Primate also used the opportunity to highlight the Church’s ongoing contributions to the GAFCON movement.

He revealed that the Church of Nigeria had recently contributed $2.5 million to the GAFCON Endowment Fund and was planning a local Nigerian GAFCON Endowment worth $2.3 million to support orthodox Anglican work and mission.

On constitutional and legal matters, Ndukuba urged legal officers to strengthen the Church’s internal reforms and national engagement.

“You are to understand yourselves to be watchmen for the Church. You defend the Church against all forms of aggression. As modern-day watchmen, we must first listen to God, then speak His truth in love, knowing our duty lies in obedience,” he said, calling on legal professionals to support the Church’s constitutional review and advocate for a new Nigerian constitution.

The Commissioner for Transportation in Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Namadi, has tendered his resignation following allegations regarding his involvement in the controversial bail of a suspected drug baron, Sulaiman Danwawu.

His resignation was announced mere hours after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf received the findings of a fact-finding committee established to investigate the matter.

The decision to resign was communicated through a statement issued on Wednesday by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Director-General of Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House.

In the statement, Namadi characterized his resignation as a difficult yet necessary action taken in the interest of public welfare, particularly given the sensitive nature of the situation.

“As a member of an administration that has consistently championed the fight against the sale and consumption of illicit drugs, it behoves me to take this step—painful as it may be,” he stated.

“While I maintain my innocence, I cannot ignore the weight of public perception and the need to protect the values we have collectively built.”

The outgoing commissioner expressed gratitude to Governor Yusuf for the opportunity to serve, reaffirming his loyalty to the administration and its vision.

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“I must, as a good citizen, strive to protect, preserve, and uphold the trust and vision we have worked so hard to instil in our dear state,” he added.

The statement confirmed that Governor Yusuf had accepted the resignation and wished Namadi success in his future endeavours. The governor, according to the release, reiterated his administration’s firm commitment to justice, discipline, and the fight against drug-related crimes and social vices.

Governor Yusuf has issued a caution to political appointees, urging them to exercise caution and obtain the necessary approvals when addressing sensitive issues of public concern. The resignation follows the submission of a report by the investigative committee on Monday.

This committee, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Justice and Constitutional Matters, Aminu Hussain, determined that Namadi had acted with negligence by serving as surety for Danwawu without conducting proper background checks.

Hussain emphasized that the inquiry was conducted with impartiality and rigor, relying on verifiable evidence. The findings affirmed that the commissioner’s actions undermined the government’s position on illicit drug control and public accountability.

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