LANRE IBRAHIM argues that the threat against the Head of National Office is uncalled for
At critical moments in the life of public institutions, reform-minded leadership often attracts resistance, controversy, and organised opposition. This has been the historical pattern across government agencies, universities, regulatory bodies, and examination institutions. The ongoing tensions within the Nigerian office of the West African Examinations Council should therefore be viewed within the broader context of institutional reform, administrative restructuring, and the difficult choices required to modernise a system that affects millions of students annually.
The recent protest by sections of unionised staff against the Head of National Office, Amos Dangut, must be carefully interrogated beyond sensational headlines and emotional accusations. At a time when WAEC is conducting one of the largest coordinated examination exercises on the African continent, involving nearly two million candidates across tens of thousands of schools, the public needs to separate reform-related discomfort from genuine institutional victimisation.
The truth is that major institutions rarely change without friction. Since assuming leadership, Amos Dangut has presided over one of the most ambitious periods of administrative tightening and operational reform within WAEC Nigeria. Whether one agrees with every policy or not, there is little doubt that the institution has been pushed toward stronger accountability, stricter operational discipline, improved examination coordination, and a more performance-driven culture.
