The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has raised the alarm over what it described as widespread extortion of candidates by some school officials and examination supervisors in the ongoing May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), warning that offenders will face severe sanctions, including prosecution.
In a strong-worded statement issued on Monday by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC said it had received disturbing reports of illegal financial demands imposed on candidates under various guises, including “transportation of scripts,” “welfare packages,” and so-called “cooperation fees.”
The examination body also accused some schools of exploiting candidates by selling calculators reportedly supplied free by WAEC, describing the practice as fraudulent and unacceptable.
According to the council, these actions constitute a direct breach of examination ethics and pose a serious threat to the integrity of the WASSCE across the country.
WAEC directed all school proprietors, principals, supervisors, and invigilators to immediately desist from collecting any form of money from candidates or their parents, stressing that no official is permitted to demand payments under any guise during the conduct of the examination.
The council further instructed that any attempt at extortion should be promptly reported to its zonal coordinators or branch controllers, or via designated official email channels.
It warned that institutions or individuals found culpable would face strict disciplinary measures, including derecognition of schools, blacklisting of officials, prosecution, and referral to relevant regulatory authorities.
WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the credibility of public examinations and safeguarding the future of candidates, noting that examination malpractice in any form would not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, the council disclosed that a total of 1,959,636 candidates from 24,207 public and private schools are currently participating in the examination nationwide.
Out of the figure, 958,564 candidates, representing 48.92 per cent, are male, while 1,001,072 candidates, representing 51.08 per cent, are female.
WAEC reiterated its call for strict adherence to examination rules, warning that the credibility of the certification process must not be compromised under any circumstance.
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