WAEC Workers Stage Protest Over Alleged Victimisation and Unfair Labour Practices

WAEC Workers Continue Nationwide Protest Over Welfare, Labour Concerns

Operations at the national headquarters of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Yaba, Lagos, were temporarily disrupted on Thursday as workers continued a nationwide protest over unresolved welfare issues and alleged unfair labour practices.

The demonstration, organised by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), entered its second day with workers marching from the WAEC headquarters in Yaba to the council’s Special Printing Division in Somolu before returning to the main office.

Beginning as early as 7 a.m., protesters carried placards and sang solidarity songs while demanding better working conditions, improved welfare packages, and an end to what they described as “impunity” and “discriminatory practices” within the examination body.

The three-day industrial action temporarily slowed activities at the Yaba office, leaving parents, candidates, and visitors unable to access some services during the protest period. Many were reportedly asked to return later in the day after the demonstration concluded. Speaking during the protest, Chairman of NASU-WAEC, Mr. Kayode Ogunyade, accused the Head of National Office of WAEC Nigeria, Amos Dangut, of undermining acceptable labour practices and placing excessive workloads on staff. According to Ogunyade, the protest was necessary to draw public attention to what workers perceive as growing intimidation and suppression within the council. “The agitation is that impunity in our system is on the highest level,” he said. 

“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.”

Ogunyade further alleged that union members had suffered punitive measures following earlier disagreements with management, especially 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,” he claimed.

The union leader also criticised what he described as unrealistic examination scheduling amid declining manpower within the organisation.

According to him, staff strength has significantly reduced due to deaths, retirements, resignations, and disciplinary actions, yet workers are still expected to handle compressed examination timetables.

“Some of us who participated in last year’s examination have died. Some voluntarily resigned, some retired, while others are on interdiction,” Ogunyade stated. “You cannot reduce the staff strength and still compress the examination timetable into three weeks. Automatically, that creates pressure on workers.”

He emphasised the scale of WAEC’s operations across Nigeria, noting that workers are responsible for distributing examination materials to all 774 local government areas nationwide, including remote communities.

“We are the ones that distribute question papers to supervisors conducting examinations at various centres. WAEC has the largest coverage because we go to remote locations daily,” he added.

Ogunyade also questioned the alleged recruitment of contract Examination Officers and Assistant Examination Officers without following due process.

“There is no problem with contract staffing, but due process must be followed,” he said.

He added that concerns about career progression and alleged irregularities in recruitment practices also contributed to the ongoing protest. When asked whether WAEC management had initiated discussions with the union since the protest began, Ogunyade said no formal meeting had taken place.

“No, none that I know,” he said. “If there is any meeting, I think I should know first.”

The protest follows a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued by NASU’s national leadership to WAEC management over nine demands related to staff welfare, disciplinary procedures, and recruitment practices.

Despite the industrial action, WAEC assured candidates, parents, and stakeholders on Wednesday that the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) would not be affected.

In a statement released through its Public Affairs Department, the council maintained that examination processes remained seamless despite the protest by some categories of workers.

WAEC also defended its decision to shorten the examination timetable, explaining that the adjustment became necessary after the number of examination subjects was streamlined from 76 to 38.

The council further denied allegations of indiscriminate dismissals and unfair sanctions, insisting that all disciplinary actions were carried out in accordance with established regulations.