The Oyo State Government has expressed concern over the delays experienced during the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), sympathising with students, parents, and guardians affected by the situation.
The position of the government was made known in a statement issued on Friday in Ibadan by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade.
According to the statement, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, described the situation as unfortunate and criticised the avoidable stress, anxiety, and risks candidates faced due to the late commencement of some examination papers, despite the existence of an approved timetable by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Olayiwola disclosed that reports received and verified by the ministry showed that examination materials for papers scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 2026, arrived late at several centres across the state. He noted that the Government (Objective) and Agricultural Science (Practical) question papers reportedly did not reach many centres until around 6:30 p.m., making it impossible for candidates to begin their examinations as scheduled.
He further revealed that as of 8:11 p.m., some examination centres in Ogbomoso and Saki were still conducting the Government (Objective) examination, while the Agricultural Science Practical paper had not yet started.
The commissioner also recalled a similar incident that occurred on June 3, 2026, when Mathematics (Objective) question papers were reportedly supplied in inadequate quantities to several centres. The shortage led to significant delays, forcing examination activities to continue late into the evening.
According to Olayiwola, officials of the Ministry of Education contacted the WAEC Zonal Coordinator regarding the incidents, and the delays were attributed to logistical challenges.
While acknowledging that WAEC is an international examination body that operates independently of the state government, the commissioner urged the council to take immediate and proactive steps to prevent a recurrence of such disruptions in future examinations.
The Oyo State Government specifically appealed to WAEC to consider rescheduling any examination paper that cannot be delivered to centres on or before 4:00 p.m. on the scheduled examination day.
He noted that such a measure would help reduce the pressure on candidates, protect their welfare, and ease the concerns of parents, guardians, and other stakeholders.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, safety, and academic success of students across the state, adding that it would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure a conducive environment for learning and assessment.
WASSCE remains one of the most important secondary school examinations in Nigeria and across West Africa, serving as a major requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
Over the years, concerns have occasionally been raised regarding delays in the distribution of examination materials, security concerns, and logistical difficulties that affect the smooth conduct of examinations in some parts of the country. Such challenges often force candidates to remain at examination centres until late hours, raising concerns about their safety, well-being, and overall performance.
