- Issues seven-day ultimatum
Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has threatened to shut down all West African Examinations Council (WAEC) offices nationwide over alleged violation of the nation’s labour laws and continued victimisation of workers.
Issuing a seven-day ultimatum, beginning from yesterday, the union directed members to mobilise for nationwide industrial action and commence a comprehensive and total strike action with effect from next week Monday, March 24, 2025.
Addressing a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, accused the examination body of injustice against and blatant suppression of trade unionism.
He accused WAEC’s management of continued victimisation of workers and its refusal to abide by a legally binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) of March 10, 2025, by both parties.
Laying some key issues, Adeyemi alleged that WAEC, through its internal memorandum of March 14, deliberately violated the agreement facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
He alleged that WAEC deliberately violated the agreement by imposing an unnecessary requirement for individual consent, which was not part of the agreement, as well as a deliberate attempt to undermine the union and the body’s disregard for industrial harmony.
NASU demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the March 14, 2025 memo, full implementation and remittance of NASU dues, end to victimisation and unlawful transfers of NASU leaders, and also WAEC’s respect of labour laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
On consequences of non-compliance within seven days, Adeyemi said NASU would initiate legal proceedings against WAEC for violating the Labour Act and Trade Union Act, and mobilise for nationwide industrial action across all WAEC offices.
He said WAEC must immediately reverse its unlawful actions and comply with the signed MoU. He threatened that failure to do so would result in a massive and sustained industrial action to defend workers’ rights.
According to him, NASU will not stand by while WAEC undermines trade unionism and victimise workers
The Guardian
