Workers of the West African Examinations Council on Thursday continued their nationwide protest over unresolved welfare concerns and alleged unfair labour practices, with activities temporarily paralysed at the council’s national office in Yaba, Lagos.
The protest, organised by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, entered its second day as workers marched from the WAEC headquarters in Yaba to the council’s Special Printing Division in Somolu before returning to the head office.
The protesters, who began the demonstration around 7 am, carried placards and chanted solidarity songs while demanding improved welfare conditions and an end to what they described as “impunity” and “discriminatory practices” within the examination body.
The industrial action is expected to last three days.
Activities at the Yaba office were stalled during the protest period as parents, candidates and other visitors who arrived at the office for inquiries were asked to return later in the day after the demonstration.
Speaking with The PUNCH during the protest, Chairman of NASU-WAEC, Mr Kayode Ogunyade, accused the Head of National Office of WAEC Nigeria, Amos Dangut, of allegedly undermining acceptable labour practices and imposing excessive workload on workers.
According to him, the protest was aimed at drawing public attention to what workers described as growing intimidation and suppression within the council.
Ogunyade said the union remained the only recognised labour body within the council, alleging that management had made efforts to weaken its influence.
“The agitation is that impunity in our system is at its highest level,” he stated.
“Impunity is when you act believing you are the all-in-all and nobody can check you. To the extent that even other management staff have been silenced and cannot express dissenting views.”
He alleged that union members had faced intimidation and punitive measures following previous disagreements with management, particularly after the workers’ strike over minimum wage issues in December 2024.
“Since after that strike action, we have been in serious trouble, from dismissal to punishment,” Ogunyade claimed.
The union leader further accused the management of placing undue pressure on workers through what he described as unrealistic examination scheduling despite dwindling manpower.
He said, “Some of us who participated in last year’s examination have died. Some voluntarily resigned, some retired, while others are on interdiction.
“You cannot reduce the staff strength and still compress the examination timetable into three weeks. Automatically, that creates pressure on workers.”
According to him, WAEC workers cover all the 774 local government areas across the country during examinations, unlike some other examination bodies with more limited operational coverage.
“We are the ones who distribute question papers to supervisors conducting examinations at various centres. WAEC has the most extensive coverage because we go to remote locations daily,” he added.
Ogunyade also criticised the alleged recruitment of contract Examination Officers and Assistant Examination Officers without due process.
“There is no problem with contract staffing, but due process must be followed,” he said.
He added that concerns over career progression and alleged irregularities in staff recruitment had also contributed to the protest.
Asked whether management had opened fresh discussions with the union since the protest began, Ogunyade said no meeting had been initiated.
“No, none that I know,” he said. “If there is any meeting, I think I should know first.”
The protest followed a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued by the NASU national leadership to WAEC management over nine demands bordering on staff welfare, disciplinary procedures and recruitment practices.
On Wednesday, WAEC had assured candidates, parents and stakeholders that the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination would not be disrupted by the protest.
The council, through its Public Affairs Department, maintained that the examination process remained seamless despite the industrial action by some categories of workers.
WAEC also defended the adjustment of the examination timetable, explaining that the reduction in examination duration was necessitated by the streamlining of subjects from 76 to 38.
The council further stated that disciplinary actions against workers were carried out in line with its regulations and denied allegations of indiscriminate dismissals or unfair sanctions.
