By Rhapsodi Affos Blog - RAB Reporter

Abuja, Nigeria – The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has petitioned the Federal Character Commission (FCC) over what it described as the non-adherence of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, to the Federal Character Principle in staff recruitment, appointments, and deployment.

In a petition dated June 16, 2026, and signed by the Chairman of the ACF Security and Employments Committee, Comrade Mohammad N. S. Tali, the forum alleged that employment opportunities and leadership positions within WAEC Nigeria have been disproportionately concentrated in favour of certain regions of the country.

According to the petition, an analysis of WAEC's recruitment records from 2020 to 2024 revealed that the South-West geopolitical zone recruited 273 national staff members, a figure the ACF claimed was about 40 per cent higher than the combined recruitment figure of the three northern geopolitical zones, which stood at 195.

The petition further alleged that the South-West and South-South zones together accounted for 473 out of the 726 national staff recruited during the period under review, representing about 60.2 per cent of total recruitment.

The forum also raised concerns over recruitment into WAEC's Registrar Cadre. It claimed that in 2023, 16 officials were recruited into the cadre, with 11 from the South-West, two from the South-South, and three from the South-East, while none came from any of the three northern geopolitical zones. Similarly, in 2020, 20 officials were reportedly recruited into the cadre, with only one person coming from the North-Central zone.

On leadership appointments, the ACF alleged that officials from the South-West occupied the headship of WAEC Nigeria for at least 32 of the past 56 years. It further claimed that between 1987 and 2006, only individuals from the South-West were appointed to lead the organisation across five successive tenures.

The group warned that the perceived imbalance could undermine staff morale, productivity, and confidence in the institution while deepening feelings of marginalisation among stakeholders from underrepresented regions.

Consequently, the ACF called on the Federal Character Commission and WAEC's Finance and Administrative Committee to conduct a comprehensive audit of the council's recruitment, appointments, promotions, and deployment processes. It also demanded the publication of statistics demonstrating compliance with the Federal Character Principle, equitable representation in future recruitment exercises and strategic appointments, a review of existing policies, and the establishment of a transparent monitoring mechanism.

The forum maintained that the petition was submitted in the spirit of constructive engagement and institutional improvement, stressing that its objective was not to create division but to strengthen WAEC's reputation as a national institution founded on equity, justice, and national integration.

As of the time of filing this report, WAEC Nigeria had not issued an official response to the allegations contained in the petition.

Rhapsodi Affos Blog (RAB Reporter)