WAEC also assured that no candidate would be required to travel more than two kilometres from their location to take the examination.

This was contained in a statement delivered by the Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Dr Amos Dangut, during a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, on Friday.

Dangut spoke in response to growing concerns among parents, schools, and education stakeholders regarding the transition to the Computer-Based WASSCE for the May/June diet.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives, on November 13, asked the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC to immediately suspend the implementation of the Computer-Based Test policy for the 2026 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.

The House also directed the Federal Ministry of Education to collaborate with states to include, in their 2026–2029 budgets, the recruitment of computer teachers, the construction of computer halls with internet facilities, and the provision of standby generators for all secondary schools in the country.

It similarly urged adequate provision of necessary facilities in private schools before the commencement of the policy in 2030.

However, Dangut said the briefing became necessary to speak on the Council’s preparedness to align with the Federal Government’s directive mandating the use of computer-based testing for the 2026 WASSCE.

He recalled the Federal Government’s order requiring all public examination bodies to migrate to digital assessment beginning in 2026. According to him, WAEC immediately initiated a series of measures, including testing digital examination platforms and evaluating the readiness of schools nationwide.

He explained that WAEC, in line with its mandate and test administration standards, undertook a nationwide assessment of all secondary schools to determine their ICT capacity, geographical suitability, and infrastructure for digital examinations.

The findings, he said, informed a new classification framework grouping schools into three categories to determine how candidates would be assigned centres.

“In line with the Council’s test administration policies, a review of the readiness of all secondary schools across the country, particularly their geographical locations and access to modern Information and Communications Technology facilities, led to the development of a framework classifying schools into three main categories,” he said.

“Based on this framework, the Council conducted a mapping of the schools and modalities for the conduct of CB-WASSCE in line with the mapping of the schools, thereby ensuring that the conduct of the CB-WASSCE will not put any candidate at a disadvantageous position.”

He emphasised that fears of candidates travelling long distances were taken into cognisance, noting that WAEC had completed its mapping strategy to guarantee convenience, equity, and safety.

“Therefore, I stand here today to assure the general public that the Council has developed a robust strategy to ensure that no candidate sitting the CB-WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026, will be disenfranchised.

“Furthermore, we have a firm plan to ensure that no candidate will have to travel for more than two kilometres to sit the examination. This is our commitment to access and equity,” he assured.

On the controversial review of the curriculum, Dangut stressed that curriculum development and approval remained the responsibility of the Federal Government, not WAEC.

He said the Council merely implements what is approved, consistent with legal and administrative frameworks.

“On the recent review of the Basic and Secondary School Curricula, the Council wishes to clarify that this initiative is a directive from the Federal Government.

“The Council operates strictly within the legal framework of its host country, and the Government is solely responsible for the development of curricula and the monitoring of their implementation,” he noted.

He outlined the new subject structure approved for the 2026 WASSCE, saying the five fields are Core, Science, Humanities, Business, and Trade Subjects. Dangut added that although Citizenship and Heritage Studies and Digital Technologies are now listed as compulsory core subjects, they will not be examined until 2028.

“The Government approved Core (Compulsory) subjects are: English Language, General Mathematics, Citizenship and Heritage Studies, Digital Technologies, and one Trade Subject. However, candidates will not be tested in Citizenship and Heritage Studies and Digital Technologies in 2026 and would therefore not be examined until 2028 upon full implementation of the revised and streamlined syllabus,” he said.

With this adjustment, he said candidates for the 2026 and 2027 examinations will sit only three core subjects: English Language, General Mathematics, and one Trade Subject, while selecting five or six electives, bringing their total subject load to eight or nine.

He also disclosed a major change to the Trade Subjects category, revealing that the number had been reduced from 26 to six, while some subjects were renamed but retained their existing curriculum content.

One of the new additions, Horticulture and Crop Production, he said, is derived from Agricultural Science and will have its own syllabus.

Addressing concerns about subject registration limits, Dangut reassured schools and parents that WAEC had not placed any restrictions on candidates choosing subjects across fields.

“Specifically, Science students will not be barred from taking Economics as an elective,” he said.

On continuous assessment, he announced that WAEC would extend the timeline for uploading Continuous Assessment Scores to allow schools to adjust to the new curriculum.

He urged schools to conduct the required minimum of three assessments for candidates taking new subjects to meet the CASS requirement.

“Furthermore, WAEC will extend the period for Continuous Assessment Scores upload to ensure they meet the CASS requirement,” he said.

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Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Federal Government, the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory have a legal obligation to provide free, compulsory, and universal basic education for every Nigerian child of primary and junior secondary school age.

The judgment was delivered on October 9, 2025, in a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) and Hauwa Mustapha, who sued for themselves and on behalf of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond.

The Federal Government, the states, and the FCT were listed as respondents.

In the certified true copy of the judgment obtained by The PUNCH, Justice Osiagor held that, by virtue of Section 11(2) of the Universal Basic Education Act, the respondents carry a binding statutory duty to provide free and compulsory basic education within their territories.

“Any state that elects to participate must comply strictly with Section 11(2) by contributing 50 per cent counterpart funds before drawing from the Universal Basic Education Fund,” the judge said.

He added that failure to access the federal block grant “does not per se amount to illegality,” describing Section 11(2) as directory and conditional rather than mandatory.

The court also addressed whether the applicants possessed locus standi to bring the suit.

Justice Osiagor adopted a liberal approach, holding that public interest litigation involving fundamental social rights did not require strict proof of personal injury.

“The applicants demonstrated a genuine concern for the enforcement of children’s educational rights, supported by evidence of unaccessed federal grants.

“The suit raises constitutional and statutory questions affecting millions of Nigerian children. Accordingly, I hold that the applicants have sufficient interest and thus possess locus standi,” he added.

On the enforceability of the right to free, compulsory, and universal basic education, the court rejected the respondents’ argument that the right was non-justiciable under Chapter II of the Constitution.

Justice Osiagor held that the enactment of the UBE Act elevated the right from a mere directive principle to a statutory entitlement enforceable against the government.

“Once parliament has enacted a law imposing obligations, those obligations become enforceable,” he stated, citing Indian jurisprudence and the reasoning behind Nigeria’s constitutional drafting process.

The court concluded that Sections 2(1) and 11(2) of the UBE Act impose binding duties on the Federal Government, the states, and the FCT to guarantee free and compulsory basic education for Nigerian children.

However, regarding whether the refusal or failure of states to pay 50 per cent counterpart funding and access the N68bn Universal Basic Education Fund amounts to illegality, the court held that the law did not criminalise such refusal.

Justice Osiagor ruled that while states were obligated to provide basic education, they could not be compelled to access the matching grants.

He resolved the first and second issues in favour of the applicants, but held on the third issue that failure to draw from the fund was not unlawful.

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Despite recurring attacks on schools across the country, 30 states have yet to implement the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative.

The Safe Schools Initiative was launched in May 2014 after the Chibok abduction, with an initial $10m pledge and later a multi-donor trust fund coordinated with the United Nations to protect education from attacks.

Since then, Nigeria has signed the Safe Schools Declaration (2015), ratified it (2019) and hosted the 4th Global SSD Conference in Abuja, while also adopting a National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in 2021.

The programme is backed by a N144.8bn financing plan (2023–2026) that relies on federal, state and donor contributions, but reports show that only a fraction of the funds has been released, and state co-funding remains inconsistent.

The failure of the authorities to implement the initiative has further exposed schools to attacks, discouraging many children from enrolling and increasing the number of out-of-school children, particularly in the North.

Early on November 17, 2025, armed men attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, abducting 24 schoolgirls. The school’s vice-principal was killed during the attack. The students were freed on Tuesday.

Days later, on November 21, gunmen invaded St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting hundreds of pupils and staff.

Church and local officials later confirmed that 303 students and 12 teachers were taken in one of the worst mass kidnappings in recent memory.

The attack occurred despite prior intelligence warnings and government directives. Authorities had ordered the closure of boarding schools in the area because of security threats, but the school reportedly reopened.

Several northern state governments have also shut down schools as kidnappings persist.

Officials familiar with the initiative told our correspondent that several states have failed to fund the Safe Schools Initiative or equip offices for its take-off.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release confidential data on the initiative, an insider disclosed that the states include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

Findings also revealed that while the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Nasarawa, Katsina, Rivers and Enugu have donated coordination centres for the programme, the facilities remain unfurnished.

Electronic gadgets and other essential equipment required to establish control and command centres for monitoring schools under their watch have not been provided, limiting effective surveillance and oversight.

Our correspondent also gathered that Jigawa State has donated and equipped a coordination centre, but it has yet to be activated.

The PUNCH reported last week that 11,550 schools have been registered on the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre’s central monitoring platform.

The Commander of the centre, Assistant Commandant General Emmanuel Ocheja, confirmed the development and underscored the need for sustained funding to ensure the project’s success.

Ocheja said, “Ongoing technological upgrades, including surveillance drones and advanced command systems, are progressing but require additional financial support.”

He also emphasised the importance of establishing “a more sophisticated Command and Control Centre and additional regional monitoring hubs.”

The commander urged state governments to play a more active role in safeguarding schools, stressing the need for “stronger early-warning systems capable of detecting potential threats before they reach school environments.”

Last week, the Federal Government appealed to state governors to adopt and domesticate the Safe School Transition Plan.

The National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the initiative, noting that the administration had shown “the political will to implement policies aimed at securing schools.” She also announced the approval of the 2026–2030 Transition Plan for Safer Schools.

NAPTAN, NANS, CSOs lament attacks

The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Students and Civil Society Organisations decried the non-implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative in 30 states amid widespread kidnappings of students.

Speaking with our correspondent, the National President of NAPTAN, Danjuma Haruna, who lamented the abductions, called on states to key into the initiative without delay.

“We saw what happened in the past weeks and we are not happy about it. We are, however, relieved to hear news of the release of the abducted students from the school in Kebbi, and we are assured that sooner or later the ones abducted in Niger State will be released.

“It is sad that we have that number of states that have not keyed into the Safe School Initiative. We are using this opportunity to call on state governments to please key into this opportunity to ensure that our schools remain safe.”

The Assistant General Secretary of NANS, Olatunji Adejuwon, said, “The rising wave of school abductions across the country has once again exposed the painful reality that the Safe School Initiative, one of Nigeria’s most crucial security frameworks for the protection of students, has been abandoned.

“This neglect has created dangerous gaps that continue to put the lives of our children, teachers and educational institutions at risk.

“The Safe School Initiative was developed to provide coordinated security strategies, early-warning systems, community-based surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms for school environments. Its non-implementation raises a serious concern: Why was a policy designed to safeguard the nation’s future allowed to fade away at a time when insecurity is escalating?

“Now more than ever, the reactivation and full enforcement of the Safe School Initiative is not just important but urgent.”

He noted that Nigeria needs strong, transparent and sustainable policies that prioritise student safety above all else, stressing the need for leaders to rise above bias, excuses and corruption.

“Protecting our children is not political; it is a moral responsibility. Students are the leaders of tomorrow, and their safety should never be compromised or negotiated.

“Reinstating the Safe School Initiative will not only restore confidence in our educational system but will reaffirm the government’s commitment to securing the future of this nation.”

The Programme Director of Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, frowned on the failure of states to key into the programme almost 10 years after its conception.

“It is highly unfortunate that more than 10 years after the conception of the Safe School Initiative, 30 states are yet to key into the policy. Remember that we have 36 states in the country; this means that only six states have keyed into the policy. This is not good enough.

“These days we are seeing a resurgence in school abductions. It is time for state governors to take urgent action. It is time for state governors to awake and take responsibility for school safety.”

National Moderator of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All, Peculiar Caleb, urged the government to deploy trained personnel to vulnerable schools and strengthen coordination among the military, police, NSCDC and local actors to safeguard children.

She expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising insecurity, especially the escalating attacks on schools, despite the country’s commitments under the SSI and SSD.

“Nigeria is becoming increasingly unsafe for children to learn. Despite signing the Safe Schools Initiative (2014) and endorsing the Safe Schools Declaration (2015), with accompanying operational guidelines, training manuals and policies, our schools remain vulnerable to violent attacks.

“From the abduction of the Chibok girls (2014) to Dapchi (2018), Kagara (2021), Jangebe (2021), Federal Government College Yauri (2021), Kuriga (2024), and now the 2025 mass abductions in Niger and Kebbi States, Nigeria continues to witness shocking violations of the right to education,” she said.

She also urged the government to reopen and secure the 589 closed schools across northern Nigeria and all 41 federal unity schools.

“We call on the government and stakeholders to act now. Nigeria cannot build a secure, prosperous and inclusive future when millions of children remain out of school and hundreds remain in captivity, when schools are unsafe and when funding for education remains insufficient.”

Kogi gov confirms bandits’ relocation

Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State has raised the alarm that bandits’ commanders have relocated to Kogi State in a move to intensify attacks, but the government and security agencies will take the fight to their hideouts.

The governor said this during an interactive session with newsmen shortly after an emergency stakeholders’ meeting with security agencies and traditional rulers at the Government House, Lokoja, on Thursday.

However, he said the situation was not peculiar to Kogi, as other parts of the country were also passing through a trying period.

He noted that certain measures had been taken in the interest of residents, regardless of religious or political affiliation.

“Before now, you will hear of shooting in schools and residents across the world; we have to put heads together to save our people. We have come to brainstorm and see a way out and provide our people with the needed security.

“The major commanders of the bandits have relocated to Kogi State in the last three days, but we will not wait for them to fight us; we will take the fight to them.

“We are not going to bow to the criminals, we are not going to negotiate with them, we are not going to pay ransom. We are going to sensitise our people to be security-conscious of their activities.”

The governor added that the State Security Council had resolved that, from now on, all public activities—whether religious or social—should end by 4pm until further notice. He warned that any event centre that violates the directive would be demolished.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ayo Edun, called for calm, saying most of the circulating reports fuelling panic were social media rumours.

He urged residents to verify information before sharing it and to report suspicious activity through circulated security hotlines.

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Highness, Tijani Anaje, speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, pledged full cooperation with the government and security agencies.

He expressed concern over wrong and misleading information spreading online, noting that some videos and messages circulating on social media were false.

He called for strategic collaboration among all community leaders to ensure peace across the state.

Meanwhile, the State Government has assured the public—especially students, parents and residents of Lokoja—that there is no bandit attack or kidnapping threat at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, or at any other school within and around the Lokoja metropolis.

Rumours of a bandit attack in Lokoja spread widely around 11.30am on Thursday, leading to disruptions of socio-economic activities for hours, particularly in the Zango, Crusher and Felele areas of the capital city.

But in a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said, “The satanic panic being circulated by mischief makers is baseless and should be completely dismissed. We urge our people to go about their lawful businesses without fear.

“The government is working round-the-clock with all security agencies to guarantee the safety and security of every Kogite, wherever they live or stay.”

FCT launches manhunt for abducted teens

In a related development, the FCT Police Command has launched a manhunt for a 16-year-old boy and six young girls abducted from their homes in Gidan Bajimi, a village in Kawu ward of the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

Residents who spoke to our correspondent said police officers combed the nearby bushes and forests in search of the kidnapped victims.

“The police were here in the morning, and they went around the bushes and the forests, trying to see if they can still trace where the kidnappers went. They did not find anything, but they promised to keep looking,” a community member, who identified himself simply as Salisu, said.

On Wednesday, the FCT Police Commissioner, Miller Dantawaye, announced the re-launch of Operation Sweep—a joint operation of security agencies in the FCT—following an expanded Security Council meeting presided over by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Briefing journalists, Dantawaye said the agencies would deploy personnel to schools and religious centres to ensure residents’ safety.

However, reports of the kidnap emerged on Thursday morning, with a member of the community, Suleiman Shuaibu, confirming the latest incident to Daily Trust.

“It was around 9:53pm when a call came from Gidan-Bijimi community that some bandits invaded the village and abducted six young girls. Unfortunately, my cousin happened to be among the victims,” he said.

He added that vigilantes put up a fight against the bandits but were forced to retreat due to the superior firepower of the attackers. The abducted girls were aged between 17 and 23 years.

Shuaibu further said that some residents fled their homes after the incident, noting that the abductors had yet to contact the community.

As of the time of filing this report, the FCT Police Command had not issued an official statement. Likewise, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT, Josephine Adeh, did not respond to calls and messages.

10 feared kidnapped in Niger

Gunmen have reportedly abducted 10 people from Angwan-Kawo and Kuchipa villages in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, told Channels TV on Thursday that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening.

“On November 26, 2025, at about 8pm, a report was received indicating that suspected armed men abducted about ten persons from Angwan-Kawo and Kuchipa villages of Shiroro Local Government Area. Effort is being made to rescue the victims,” Abiodun said.

Earlier that same day, another attack was reported in Kakuru community, also in Erena Ward, where a blind man was reportedly brutalised and had his right hand severed by bandits after they seized a mobile phone from him.

The victim is currently receiving first aid at a patent medicine shop in the Kuduru community.

Residents of the Palaita community, Erena Ward, also reported that bandits attacked a rice farm in their area, allegedly abducting up to 24 people, including pregnant women. The PUNCH could not immediately confirm the incident.