The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has petitioned the Federal Character Commission (FCC), alleging persistent violations of the Federal Character Principle by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, in its recruitment, appointments, promotions, and staff deployment processes.
The petition, dated June 16, 2026, was signed by the Chairman of the ACF Security and Employments Committee, retired Commissioner of Police, Comrade Mohammad N. S. Tali, and addressed to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission in Abuja.
In the letter, the forum expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of disproportionate recruitment and career advancement opportunities favoring certain regions of the country, contrary to the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the ACF, findings contained in recruitment and appointment records reviewed by the group indicate that WAEC Nigeria has failed to maintain equitable representation of the country’s six geopolitical zones in its staffing structure.
The forum claimed that data covering recent recruitment exercises showed that the South-West geopolitical zone recorded 273 national staff recruitments, a figure it said exceeded the combined total of the three northern geopolitical zones, which stood at 195.
It further alleged that the South-West and South-South zones together accounted for 473 recruitments, representing over 60 percent of the total 726 national staff employed during the period under review.
The petition also raised concerns about the recruitment of staff into the Registrar Cadre, alleging that the South-East, South-South, and South-West zones received significantly higher numbers of appointments than the three northern zones combined.
Citing recruitment figures for 2023, the ACF noted that all 16 Registrar Cadre appointments were allocated to candidates from southern states, with 11 from the South-West, two from the South-South, and three from the South-East, while none were reportedly drawn from the North.
The forum also questioned the leadership structure of WAEC Nigeria, alleging that the South-West had dominated the organisation’s top leadership positions over the past five decades.
According to the petition, individuals from the South-West headed WAEC Nigeria for at least 32 years out of the 56-year period reviewed, while the three northern geopolitical zones collectively occupied the position only once for a period of three years.
The ACF argued that the perceived imbalance has contributed to feelings of marginalisation among stakeholders and staff from other parts of the country and could negatively affect morale, productivity, and confidence in the institution’s commitment to fairness and equal opportunity.
The group therefore called on the Federal Character Commission to investigate the allegations and ensure compliance with constitutional provisions governing equitable representation in federal institutions.
Specifically, the forum urged the commission to conduct a comprehensive audit of WAEC’s recruitment, appointments, promotions, and deployment practices; publish relevant compliance statistics; ensure equitable representation of all states and geopolitical zones in future exercises; review existing deployment policies; and establish a transparent monitoring mechanism to guarantee adherence to the Federal Character Principle.
The petition emphasized that its objective was not to create division but to strengthen WAEC’s reputation as a national institution committed to equity, justice, and national integration.
The ACF expressed confidence that the Federal Character Commission would give the matter urgent attention and take necessary steps to address the concerns raised.
As of the time of filing this report, WAEC Nigeria had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition.