The Katsina State Government has urged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to nullify the recently conducted English Language paper, citing widespread delays that disrupted the examination process.

This call was made on Saturday by the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa, during an official visit to the WAEC office in Katsina.

According to the commissioner, the exam, originally scheduled for Wednesday, began several hours late in many centres across the country—a situation that led to students sitting for the paper at night, in poor lighting conditions.

"Many candidates were forced to write the exam using flashlights, mobile phone lights, and available security lighting after dark," Musa-Musawa explained.

The state’s position was formally presented in a petition signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Ummukhair Ahmed, and submitted to WAEC. WAEC had earlier attributed the delay to intensified efforts aimed at curbing exam malpractice and preventing leaks of question papers.

Musa-Musawa appealed to schools, parents, and communities to remain calm and await the council’s response to the petition, emphasizing the state’s commitment to fairness for all affected candidates.