The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education have firmly debunked a viral statement alleging the cancellation of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) due to alleged widespread malpractice.
A purported press release, falsely attributed to the Federal Ministry of Education and widely circulated on social media, claimed that the entire 2025 WASSCE had been nullified following what it described as “the largest coordinated exam malpractice operation in the nation’s history.”
“The document, bearing the name of a supposed Director-General of the Federal Examinations Regulatory Board, Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Lawal, cited the cancellation of exams held from May 6 to July 18 and those scheduled from July 22 onward.
However, WAEC has categorically denied these claims. Speaking with Vanguard, the Council’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Moyo Adesina, described the report as fake, fictitious, and misleading, urging the public to ignore the false information.
“The statement is not only fictitious, but a figment of the imagination of the purveyors of such news,” she said.
“The 2025 WASSCE was successfully concluded as scheduled. Marking of the scripts is currently ongoing, and results will be released soon.”
Mrs. Adesina further assured candidates, parents, and the general public that an official statement would be released to clarify the situation and restate the integrity of the examination process.
In a swift response, the Federal Ministry of Education also issued a formal press release debunking the false claims. The Ministry emphasized that the 2025 WASSCE concluded successfully, with only isolated cases of malpractice—which were promptly addressed—and that the ongoing NECO examinations are progressing smoothly.
“The Ministry has not received any report or directive from WAEC, NECO, or any examination body regarding widespread malpractice or examination cancellation,” the statement read.
It added that the press release in circulation was entirely fabricated and designed to incite panic, warning the public to rely solely on verified sources.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the integrity and credibility of public examinations in Nigeria and vowed to strengthen collaboration with examination bodies on enforcement and monitoring.
The Ministry warned that individuals found spreading false information would be reported to security agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.