Civil society organisations (CSOs) have criticised the National Assembly (NASS) over what they described as undue interference in the operations of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), warning that such actions could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.CSOs Slam NASS Over Alleged Interference in JAMB, WAEC Operations

CSOs Slam NASS Over Alleged Interference in JAMB, WAEC Operations

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the CSOs expressed concern over recent legislative actions and public hearings involving the two examination bodies, alleging that they risk politicising institutions that are meant to operate independently. The groups said constant summons and probes by lawmakers could distract the agencies from their core mandate of conducting fair and credible examinations.

According to the statement, the organisations argued that while legislative oversight is constitutionally recognised, it should not extend to micromanaging the day-to-day affairs of examination bodies. They cautioned that excessive interference could weaken institutional autonomy and erode public confidence in national examinations.

The CSOs also warned that politicising JAMB and WAEC could have far-reaching consequences for millions of candidates who rely on the integrity of their results for admission into tertiary institutions and career advancement. They urged the National Assembly to allow the agencies to carry out internal reforms without external pressure.

The groups called on lawmakers to focus on enacting policies and providing adequate funding to strengthen the education sector, rather than engaging in actions that could disrupt examination processes. They further appealed to relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, to safeguard the independence of examination bodies.

Efforts to obtain a response from the National Assembly and the management of JAMB and WAEC were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The development comes amid growing public debate over the role of legislative oversight in Nigeria’s education sector and concerns about maintaining transparency and accountability without compromising institutional independence.