Workers of the West African Examinations Council have suspended their nationwide protest over alleged unfair treatment and poor welfare conditions, but warned that they may resume industrial action if their demands are ignored.
The workers, under the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, ended the three-day protest on Friday after disrupting activities at WAEC’s national headquarters in Yaba, Lagos.
Speaking after the suspension, NASU-WAEC Chairman, Kayode Ogunyade, said the union had now narrowed its demands to one major issue — the removal of the Head of National Office, Amos Dangut.
According to him, the union decided to drop other grievances and focus solely on demanding Dangut’s exit from office.
Ogunyade explained that the decision followed several meetings with WAEC management and other stakeholders which failed to produce any meaningful resolution.
He disclosed that discussions were held with the WAEC Pension Welfare Association and management after Thursday’s protest, but the talks ended without agreement.
Following the deadlock, the union resolved to change its strategy and intensify its call for the removal of the WAEC boss.
Although the protest has been suspended for now, Ogunyade warned that workers could return to the streets depending on directives from the union’s national leadership.
He stressed that the workers remained prepared to resume protests if necessary, insisting that they successfully sustained previous industrial actions and could do so again.
Despite the tensions, Ogunyade confirmed that employees had returned to work and assured that ongoing examinations would not be affected.
The protest began on Wednesday as workers marched from WAEC headquarters in Yaba to the council’s Special Printing Division in Somolu, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards.
The union accused WAEC management of intimidation, discrimination and poor welfare practices affecting workers across the organisation.
Ogunyade had earlier alleged that some union members were victimised following an earlier protest over minimum wage issues in December 2024.
He also criticised the heavy workload placed on staff amid shrinking manpower, noting that WAEC officials supervise examination activities across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
The union further raised concerns about recruitment procedures, disciplinary actions and limited career advancement opportunities within the council.
Meanwhile, WAEC maintained that the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination was not disrupted by the protest.
The council, through its Public Affairs Department, stated that examination activities continued smoothly despite the industrial action.
WAEC also defended recent adjustments made to the examination timetable, explaining that the changes followed a reduction in the number of examination subjects from 76 to 38.
The examination body denied allegations of indiscriminate dismissals and unfair sanctions, insisting that all disciplinary measures were carried out according to established regulations.
