WAEC Cheats To Pay N200,000 Fine

Exam malpractice is getting the big hammer as a bill seeking to impose a N200,000 fine has passed 2nd reading in the House.  

A bill seeking to provide N200,000 fine as penalty against examination malpractices has passed second reading at the House of Representatives on Thursday.

In sessions presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, the bill passed second reading in a unanimous voice vote.

Leading debate on the bill, House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, said Sections 20/21 of the Principal Act would be amended to incorporate the new fine.

Akande-Adeola said "because of the high incidences of examination malpractices" Section 19 of the WAEC Principal Act, be amended to "include illegal possession of examination papers" among punishable offences.

“Having fore-knowledge of the contents of an examination paper or makes use of an examination paper or the content of it in any manner whatsoever without lawful authority,” she said.

Hon Aikande-Adeola also alerted the House on the fact that Nigeria, despite being a major financier of WAEC, was yet to domesticate the 2013 Convention of the continental examination body.

Therefore, the bill also sought to domesticate it.

“Nigeria is the only country out of the five countries constituting the council’s membership that has not ratified the convention,” she said.

The amendment will thus provide penalties of up to N200,000 against offenders – an increase of 198,000 from the current N2,000 fine.

Speaker Tambuwal referred to the committee on education for further legislative action.