End dictatorship or risk fresh strike, NASU-WAEC warns

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has warned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) against adopting what they described as dictatorial practices, urging the council to embrace dialogue to avert another industrial crisis.

Matthew Ogunyade, chairman of NASU, WAEC, Nigeria, made this known in his speech during the union’s peaceful rally at the examination council’s office at Yaba, Lagos, on Monday, August 24, to demonstrate their displeasure on the worsening industrial relations climate under the leadership of Amos Dangut as the head of the National Office at WAEC, Nigeria.

Ogunyade emphasised the growing labour dispute between NASU and WAEC, which he said is raising concerns over staff welfare, workplace relations and the potential impact of industrial action on the council’s operations.

“NASU’s WAEC Nigeria remains open to dialogue with management, but the Amos Dangut-led administration is failing to resolve several issues affecting our members. We don’t want to disrupt the council’s activities but would continue to defend our interests through lawful means.

“We do not desire disruption of council activities. However, a peaceful, motivated, and fairly treated workforce is the bedrock of credible examinations,” Ogunyade said.

The labour dispute at WAEC, Nigeria covers staff development, disciplinary procedures, promotion, recruitment, union representation and the scheduling of examination-related work.

Ogunyade explained that the union had previously issued a 14-day ultimatum after what it described as management’s failure to resolve its concerns. The ultimatum was expected to culminate in an indefinite strike on July 22, 2026.

Besides, he noted that subsequent meetings between the union and management, including one that lasted from 3:00 pm to 1:00 am, failed to produce sufficient results on the outstanding issues.

“We remain committed to peaceful resolution, but we will not compromise on the rights, welfare and dignity of our members,” he said.
He stressed that staff welfare is at the centre of the dispute, especially as concerned the scheduling of examination-related activities.

“The management under Dangut decided to reduce the packing schedule for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination from 48 hours to 24 hours, which exerted excessive pressure on staff,” NASU emphasised.

Moreover, Ogunyade alleged that three members of staff died during the examination period, linking the deaths to fatigue arising from the compressed schedule.

However, the claim has not been independently verified, but the union maintained that its members died as a result of fatigue from excessive work pressure.

According to the union, Dangut and his management team quickly and subsequently returned to the 48-hour schedule, after the harm had been done.

Consequently, NASU called for a review of examination work schedules to ensure that pressure to meet operational deadlines does not undermine employee welfare; besides, the union criticised the suspension of the staff upgrade programme, emphasising that employees had invested time and resources in preparing for the process before it was halted.

The union said it had asked management to provide clarity on the decision and called for the programme to be reinstated and concluded transparently.
The union further stated that WAEC constituted some panels without its members being represented, and demanded that all the panels being considered improperly constituted be reviewed.
The union leader also cited the case of Elizabeth Okolie, the branch treasurer, who he said faced a disciplinary panel and was denied promotion due to what he described as a minor incident at WAEC Press House in Lagos, after which Sanni Moshood and others were dismissed from service.

“We are not saying that staff should not be disciplined where there are genuine cases of misconduct. What we are insisting on is fairness, due process and the right of affected workers to representation,” Ogunyade said.

Speaking about WAEC’s decision to head to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the union from embarking on industrial action, Ogunyade noted that the union urged the council to avoid steps that could prejudice matters before the court and allow the judicial process to run its course.

“We demand that management obey the court process and allow the law to take its course, because such actions amount to contempt of court, and would ultimately be a matter for judicial determination,” he noted.

Ogunyade called on the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, WAEC’s administrative and finance committee and other stakeholders to intervene in the dispute.

“Our priority is to return both sides to meaningful negotiations while addressing the underlying workplace concerns that have repeatedly brought industrial relations to the brink of disruption.

“Our position is very clear: dialogue is the best way forward, but dialogue must be meaningful and must produce results,” he said.

He emphasised that, bearing in mind that the dispute came at a time when the reliability and credibility of examination systems remain critical to students, schools and families, who depend on WAEC’s operations, resolving the conflict could therefore require more than an agreement to suspend industrial action.

“It involves establishing clearer mechanisms for handling staff grievances, disciplinary procedures, promotion, recruitment and examination workloads before disputes escalate.
“We want a WAEC where management and workers can work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect, fairness and trust,” he said.