Few days ago, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, raised the alarm over a deliberate policy by the management of West African Examinations Council, WAEC, to emasculate it as a union, especially in the examination body.
The Union which threatened to down tools and shut all WAEC offices across the country including the Yaba headquarters, lamented that as against established culture of harmonious labour relations for decades, the management has turned to a union buster.
Giving insight into NASU’s quarrel with the current management of WAEC that came on board in October 2023, the Union’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, said the union was deeply concerned by WAEC’s failure to uphold agreements made in a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed in March 2025.
The union views this as not only an attack on its members but a broader challenge to workers’ rights in Nigeria, saying: “In 2023, amidst Nigeria’s challenging economic climate, the FG approved a monthly palliative of N35, 000.00 to support workers. In response, WAEC set up a committee to recommend how best to distribute this amount among its staff. The committee, which included both union and management representatives, proposed a payment of N30, 000.00 per month for six months.
“However, in a move that raised alarm within the workforce, WAEC’s management, led by the Head of the National Office, HNO, decided on a unilateral payment of N25, 000.00 for only three months. This decision came only after NASU and other workers put pressure on management, forcing WAEC to reluctantly adopt the recommended figure—but only for a shortened period.
“The disagreement over the palliative payment was just one chapter in the ongoing saga of worker dissatisfaction at WAEC. The issue deepened in December 2024 when the salary review committee recommended a 30 per cent salary increase for staff. However, WAEC management only implemented a 25 per cent increase, prompting NASU to call for a four-day strike. The strike, which took place from December 9th to 12th, ended after NASU and WAEC reached a compromise, securing a 27.5 per cent increase. While this marked a small victory for NASU members, it highlighted WAEC’s tendency to disregard the spirit of collective bargaining.
Even after the strike’s resolution, WAEC management’s retaliatory actions continued. On January 16th, 2025, the council issued an internal memo ordering the stoppage of NASU check-off dues deductions.
This unilateral decision was seen by NASU as an act of punishment for its role in the strike. NASU quickly responded, demanding that the decision be reversed, but management refused to engage in any meaningful dialogue. This action was not only a direct attack on the union’s financial structure but also a violation of workers’ rights.
In a further escalation of tensions, the HNO reportedly planned to transfer NASU branch leaders at WAEC’s Yaba headquarters to other locations across the country. This move, NASU contends, was an attempt to undermine the union’s leadership and weaken its ability to represent workers. Such actions, according to NASU, are an infringement on the fundamental rights of workers to organise and freely associate, and are part of a broader strategy to suppress union activities.
NASU’s attempts to resolve the situation through dialogue have been largely ignored by WAEC management. On January 9th, 2025, NASU’s WAEC branch sent a letter urging the council to reverse the cessation of check-off dues deductions. When this went unanswered, NASU headquarters escalated the matter with a follow-up letter in February. WAEC’s continued intransigence left NASU with no choice but to declare a trade dispute on February 17th, 2025. The dispute was filed with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, which stepped in to facilitate a reconciliation process.
On February 27th, 2025, the Ministry invited both parties to a reconciliation meeting. The meeting, held on March 10th, resulted in an MoU that required WAEC to immediately resume the deduction and remittance of NASU’s check-off dues. This agreement was signed by all parties, including representatives from the Ministry. However, WAEC’s commitment to the MoU was short-lived. Just days later, on March 14th, the council issued a memo imposing an additional requirement for individual consent from NASU members before the dues could be deducted. This new condition was not part of the original MoU, and NASU has described it as a breach of the agreement.
WAEC’s actions have violated not only the MoU but also Nigeria’s Labour Act, specifically Section 5(3)(a), which mandates that once a trade union is recognised, employers must automatically deduct and remit union dues without requiring further consent. Moreover, these actions contradict international labour standards, including ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which guarantee workers’ rights to freely associate and engage in collective bargaining.
The victimisation of NASU members goes beyond financial issues. Union officials at the WAEC headquarters have been marginalised, with management refusing to engage them in any meaningful dialogue. The planned transfers of NASU leaders are seen as a deliberate effort to weaken the union’s influence and intimidate workers into abandoning their right to union representation. This situation is exacerbated by WAEC’s failure to communicate effectively with NASU, as evidenced by the decision to post the memo on notice boards instead of consulting with the union directly.
NASU is calling on WAEC to cease its campaign of suppression and intimidation and to honor the MoU signed on March 10th, 2025. The union has also urged the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to take decisive action to ensure that WAEC adheres to its legal obligations. The rights of workers to organize, freely associate, and bargain collectively should not be subject to interference or retaliation, and NASU remains committed to defending those rights, even in the face of continued hostility from WAEC.
In conclusion, NASU is standing firm in its commitment to securing justice for its members. The union will continue to fight for the rights of workers at WAEC and across Nigeria, demanding a workplace where fairness, respect, and adherence to labor laws are prioritized. The time has come for WAEC to stop its anti-union actions and engage in genuine dialogue with NASU for the benefit of all its workers.
