The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), condemning what it calls a blatant disregard for a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on March 10, 2025, at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja. The Union has accused WAEC of victimizing its members and suppressing trade union rights.
NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, expressed deep concern over WAEC’s failure to honor agreements, particularly regarding salary increments and check-off dues deductions. He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues, stating, “In 2023, the Federal Government paid federal workers N35,000 across board for six months as palliative in view of the harsh economic situation in the country. WAEC Management set up a Committee made up of Management representatives and Union representatives to recommend what WAEC should do.
“The Committee recommended that WAEC should pay N30,000.00 monthly across board for six months. Unfortunately, the Head of the National Office (HNO), who is the Chief Executive Officer of WAEC in Nigeria, unilaterally went ahead to pay N25,000 across board for three months. The Management of WAEC only agreed to pay the N30,000.00 recommended by the Committee on the last day of the seven-day ultimatum given to WAEC Management.”
In another dispute, WAEC’s Management had agreed to implement a 27.5% salary increment following a four-day strike action by NASU in December 2024. However, WAEC’s subsequent actions suggest an attempt to weaken the Union. On January 16, 2025, WAEC issued an internal memo (Ref No. L/GAD/26/235) halting the deduction and remittance of NASU check-off dues. The Union considers this move an act of retaliation for the lawful strike.
NASU further highlighted that WAEC’s refusal to remit check-off dues violates Section 5(3)(a) of the Labour Act, which mandates employers to deduct and remit dues once a trade union is registered and recognized. The Union also cited breaches of Nigeria’s Trade Union Act and International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, which protect workers’ rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.
Additionally, NASU has accused WAEC of sidelining its officials at the Yaba office, deliberately excluding them from engagements, and planning the transfer of NASU branch leaders to weaken the Union’s presence in the Council. The Union claims WAEC is actively working to cripple NASU financially by stopping the remittance of check-off dues, a move seen as an attempt to silence the Union and erode workers’ rights.
To make matters worse, NASU revealed that WAEC’s internal memorandum of March 14, 2025, imposed an unnecessary requirement for individual consent before check-off deductions, despite the MoU making no such provision. The Union argues that WAEC’s refusal to engage in good faith undermines the reconciliation process facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
With WAEC showing no signs of compliance, NASU has vowed to take further action if the institution continues its anti-union practices. The Union insists on full adherence to the agreements reached and demands an immediate reversal of WAEC’s punitive measures against its members.
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