WAEC, Education Ministry Sued Over Alleged Human Rights Violations During 2025 WASSCE Exam

WAEC and the Education Ministry face legal action over alleged rights violations during the 2025 WASSCE.

A Lagos-based legal practitioner and prominent human rights advocate, Evans Ufeli, has taken a bold legal step against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, accusing both bodies of violating the fundamental rights of Nigerian students during the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Ufeli seeks redress for what he described as the “gross and inhumane treatment” of students during the conduct of the 2025 WASSCE English Language paper, held in May. Representing a group of affected students, the lawyer is demanding accountability for what he sees as a national failure in upholding the rights and safety of young learners.
According to the originating motion, filed pursuant to Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), as well as provisions of the Child Rights Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the conduct of the examination allegedly subjected thousands of Nigerian students to degrading, unsafe, and traumatic conditions.

In the suit, Ufeli paints a disturbing picture of widespread disorganization and neglect, claiming that students were made to write critical national exams in pitch darkness, insecure environments, and in some cases, as late as 8:00 p.m., a time clearly unsuitable for any form of academic exercise, especially involving minors.
Key Demands: Re-sit of Exam and N100 Billion Compensation
Evans Ufeli is not only calling for accountability but also seeking tangible remedies for the affected students. His suit outlines six major reliefs, among which are

•  A court declaration that the conduct of the May 2025 English Language exam in unsafe and dark conditions violated the students' fundamental rights as guaranteed under Nigerian law and international human rights instruments.
  
  
• A mandatory order compelling WAEC and the Ministry of Education to organize a re-sit of the affected examinations under proper and humane conditions, at no cost to the students or their families.
  
  
• An official public apology from the respondents, coupled with a comprehensive review and overhaul of WAEC's logistics and contingency procedures.
  
  
• Compensation of N100 billion in general and exemplary damages for the psychological trauma, physical stress, and disruption to academic performance suffered by students.
  
  
• A court order directing the respondents to put in place concrete measures to prevent a recurrence of such failures in future examinations.
  
  
•  A declaration that both WAEC and the ministry failed in their constitutional and statutory obligations to safeguard the dignity, welfare, and educational rights of Nigerian students.

The suit filed by Ufeli brings to light issues that had already sparked national outrage among parents, civil society groups, and educational stakeholders. Widespread media reports and findings from the National Assembly’s Education Committee had earlier revealed a disturbing pattern of poor planning, late delivery of exam materials, lack of security personnel at examination centers, and even instances where students were forced to rely on torchlight to write their papers.
In his affidavit, Ufeli stressed that such irregularities were not isolated incidents but systemic failures that point to administrative negligence and indifference to the safety and dignity of young Nigerians.
“This Is a National Disgrace” —Evans” Ufeli
Speaking at a press briefing after filing the lawsuit, the legal practitioner did not mince words in his criticism of WAEC and the Ministry of Education. He described the 2025 examination exercise as a national embarrassment and a monumental failure of foresight and planning.

“This case is not just about one paper. It’s about a generation of students who were treated as disposable,” he said. “The state and its agencies have no legal or moral right to subject children to such traumatic and inhumane conditions—no matter the excuse.”

Ufeli rejected WAEC’s earlier justification that security concerns and attempts to curb exam malpractice were the reasons for the late commencement and rescheduling of certain exams. According to him, those reasons do not justify the violation of children’s rights.

“There are lawful and civil ways to address security threats and malpractice without trampling on the dignity and mental well-being of minors,” he added.

The legal arguments laid out in the suit are rooted in constitutional law and international human rights standards.

• Section 34(1) of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to dignity of the human person, explicitly prohibiting inhuman or degrading treatment.
• Section 36 assures every citizen the right to a fair hearing, especially in matters as crucial as educational evaluation.

The Child Rights Act further strengthens protections for minors, while the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights emphasizes the right to education, safety, and protection from abuse or neglect.
By relying on these legal instruments, Ufeli is positioning the lawsuit not just as a challenge to WAEC but as a test case for systemic educational reform and accountability in Nigeria.  Nigerian Lawmakers React Strongly to Reports of Midnight WASSCE Exams Across the Country

Since news of the lawsuit broke, civil society organizations and parents’ associations have expressed solidarity with the legal action. Some have called for an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the 2025 WASSCE and urged the federal government to hold the examination body accountable.
A spokesperson for a leading NGO, Citizens for Educational Justice, described the case as “long overdue,” noting that many students have silently endured years of poor exam logistics, lack of comfort, and outright neglect by educational authorities.
Parents of affected students have also begun to speak out. One Lagos-based parent recounted how her daughter, a 17-year-old candidate, returned home “shaken and in tears” after having to write her English paper by flashlight.
As of now, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. However, legal experts believe the case could set a groundbreaking precedent in Nigeria’s education sector if the court rules in favor of the students.

“This could force WAEC and the Ministry of Education to reevaluate their processes, invest in better logistics, and adopt student-centered policies going forward,” said a Lagos-based education policy analyst.

The lawsuit filed by Evans Ufeli has thrown a spotlight on the chronic dysfunction in Nigeria’s examination system, especially as it affects public school students from less privileged backgrounds. If successful, this case could bring justice to thousands of affected students and drive long-overdue reforms in how national examinations are conducted across Nigeria.
As the country awaits the court’s decision, many are hopeful that the voices of students—often ignored or overlooked—will finally receive the attention and respect they deserve.

Primelineinfo