NASU threatens strike over ‘poor welfare’ of workers at WAEC

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to address welfare concerns and alleged victimisation of its leaders.

In a press briefing held in Lagos on Monday, Peters Adeyemi, NASU’s general secretary, warned that failure by WAEC to meet the union’s four-point demand would lead to a nationwide strike, effective March 24.

The union emphasised that its demands, which centre on staff welfare and the protection of union leaders’ rights, must be urgently addressed to safeguard the well-being of its members.

“If the management does not take immediate action, all WAEC offices across the country will be shut down indefinitely,” he said. 

Last year, members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and NASU embarked on a week-long strike.

The two unions protested over their salaries withheld by the federal government.

SSANU and NASU accused the federal government of unfair treatment and discrimination.

They expressed concern that the federal government failed to pay them like their academic counterparts.

The protesting staff shut down hostels, cut off power supply, and withdrew security/administrative services in public universities.

In 2022, the salaries of university staff who embarked on an eight-month strike were withheld by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu directed the release of four months of the withheld eight-month pay of all lecturers.