Workers of the Nigerian office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) are preparing to begin a three-day protest over allegations of management highhandedness, illegal recruitment practices, and controversial pay policies.
The industrial action, which is scheduled to start on Wednesday at WAEC’s headquarters in Lagos, is also expected to spread to regional and state offices across the country.
The protest is being organised by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), which accused WAEC management of taking unilateral decisions, violating seniority principles, and imposing punitive administrative measures on workers.
In a letter dated May 5 and signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the union outlined several grievances and issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management before declaring the planned protest.
Among the issues raised by the union are the suspension of staff upgrade programmes, the alleged imposition of a minimum net pay policy, the setting up of investigative panels without proper consultation, concerns over recruitment processes, and changes made to the structure of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
NASU stated that its members across various branches nationwide unanimously agreed to proceed with the protest after the ultimatum expired, following an online meeting involving union representatives.
The union also warned that the industrial action could be intensified if the management fails to address its demands.
However, WAEC management, in a response dated May 8, denied several of the allegations and maintained that it has continued to operate within the approved conditions of service while remaining responsive to workers’ concerns.
The examination body further explained that some policy decisions, including adjustments to the duration of WASSCE, were based on directives from the Federal Ministry of Education.
WAEC also disclosed that the proposed minimum net pay policy had already been suspended and added that established grievance procedures are available for staff members seeking redress.
Despite the tension, the council assured the public that it remains committed to conducting a smooth and hitch-free 2026 WASSCE for the 1,959,636 candidates registered across 24,207 schools nationwide.
The planned protest, however, has raised concerns over possible disruptions to the examination process if the dispute is not resolved quickly.
Elijah Adeyemi
No comments:
Post a Comment