The House of Representatives has directed the Federal Ministry of Education and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to suspend plans to introduce Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the 2026 examinations. Lawmakers resolved that the transition should only take place after full readiness measures are achieved, with a new target year set for 2030.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance raised by Rep. Kelechi Wogu during Thursday’s plenary. Wogu warned that rushing the implementation could lead to mass failure, depression, and even fatalities among students, citing the 2025 WAEC result portal glitches that left many candidates distressed.
The House instructed the Ministry of Education and state governments to make budgetary provisions between 2026 and 2029 for the recruitment of computer teachers, construction of ICT halls with internet facilities, and provision of standby generators. They also called for an assessment of private schools’ preparedness for the digital shift.
Lawmakers noted that the planned transition differs from JAMB’s single-subject testing format, stressing that WAEC’s nine-subject structure requires more extensive infrastructure and training. They urged that at least three years of preparatory work be completed before full adoption in the 2029–2030 academic session.
