WASSCE: WAEC Workers Threaten Strike, Cite Poor Welfare, Labour Disputes

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26/08/26 • 190 Ansichten • 0 Aktie • Veröffentlicht in Andere

Workers under the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, WAEC Nigeria branch, have threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike over alleged poor staff welfare..

The union issued the warning on Monday at an emergency general meeting held at the West African Examinations Council’s National Office in Yaba, Lagos.

In a speech delivered at the meeting and made available to Nigerian Tribune by the NASU branch chairman, Comrade Matthew Kayode Ogunyade, the union accused WAEC management, led by the Head of National Office, Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, of disregarding court processes and creating conditions that could trigger an industrial crisis.

According to Ogunyade, WAEC management approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on July 17, 2026, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the union from proceeding with its planned industrial action.

He, however, alleged that management had continued to make pronouncements and alter structures relating to issues already before the court.

“Management has continued to engage in activities that contravene the spirit of that court process. This constitutes a direct violation of the principle of lis pendens and amounts to contempt of court,” Ogunyade said.

He urged Dangut and the WAEC management to comply with the court process and allow the legal proceedings to run their course.

The union had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to management, threatening to shut down WAEC offices nationwide over nine unresolved grievances.

One of the major concerns raised by NASU was the reduction of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination packing period from 48 hours to 24 hours.

The union alleged that the compressed schedule placed excessive pressure on workers and contributed to the deaths of three staff members from extreme fatigue.

NASU claimed that management restored the 48-hour schedule only after the reported fatalities.

Other grievances cited by the union include the suspension of the staff upgrade programme after workers had allegedly spent personal funds preparing for it, the introduction of a Minimum Net Pay Balance Policy and the alleged denial of promotions.

The union also accused management of constituting disciplinary panels without union representation, alleging that the process contributed to the dismissal of some workers, including Sanni Moshood, Olaniyan Adewale Ezekiel and five staff members at the Benin office.

NASU further raised concerns over the alleged denial of promotion to its branch treasurer, Elizabeth Okolie, following what it described as a minor incident at the WAEC Press House in Lagos.

The union also accused management of indiscriminate recruitment of contract workers and alleged attempts to weaken collective bargaining by restructuring the Examination Administrative Officers Cadre.

Ogunyade said several conciliatory meetings had been held between the union and management, including one that lasted from 3pm until 1am, but that the discussions failed to resolve the outstanding issues.

He attributed the breakdown to what he described as management’s “evasiveness and resistance.”

The disagreement had earlier threatened to result in a nationwide shutdown of WAEC operations on July 22, 2026, before the intervention of the court.

Appealing for intervention, NASU urged the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and WAEC’s Administrative and Finance Committee to intervene in the dispute.

The union said it was concerned about the potential impact of industrial action on students and the credibility of examinations across the region but insisted that workers’ welfare and dignity could not be compromised.

“A peaceful, motivated, and fairly treated workforce is the bedrock of credible examinations,” Ogunyade said, urging management to choose dialogue over confrontation and respect the rule of law.

When contacted, WAEC Nigeria spokesperson, Mrs Moyosola Adesina, declined to comment extensively, saying the matter was currently before the court.

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