The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a stern ultimatum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), threatening a nationwide strike action if the council fails to address what the union describes as “blatant victimization” and suppression of trade union rights within seven days. The brewing conflict stems from a series of disputes regarding workers’ welfare and union activities, culminating in WAEC’s alleged refusal to implement a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) brokered by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
At the heart of NASU’s grievances lies WAEC’s decision to halt the deduction of union dues, a move the union interprets as a deliberate attempt to weaken its financial stability and curtail its operational capacity. NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, accused WAEC of not only stopping the dues deductions but also of intimidating union leaders and flagrantly disregarding the MoU signed on March 10, 2025. This MoU, according to Adeyemi, mandated the immediate restoration of dues deductions, a provision WAEC has allegedly ignored. Furthermore, NASU contends that WAEC has imposed an arbitrary requirement for individual consent before deducting check-off dues, a practice the union considers a clear violation of established labor laws.
The current impasse is the culmination of a pattern of alleged bad faith on the part of WAEC management, dating back to 2023. In one instance, WAEC’s Head of National Office unilaterally reduced a jointly agreed-upon palliative payment from N30,000 to N25,000 and limited its duration to three months, disregarding the recommendations of a joint WAEC-Union committee. A similar incident occurred in December 2024 when WAEC imposed a 25% salary increase, despite the committee’s recommendation of a 30% raise. Although a four-day strike eventually compelled WAEC to adjust the increase to 27.5%, the union alleges that this protest action led to retaliatory measures.
These retaliatory measures, according to NASU, include the January 16, 2025 memo halting check-off dues deductions and alleged plans to transfer key union leaders from the Yaba headquarters, a move interpreted as an attempt to weaken the union’s influence. NASU argues that these actions violate not only Section 5(3)(a) of the Labour Act and Nigeria’s Trade Union Act, which mandate automatic dues deductions for registered unions, but also International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, which guarantee workers’ rights to collective bargaining. The union’s stance highlights its commitment to upholding workers’ rights and challenging any actions perceived as undermining these fundamental principles.
The intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, following NASU’s formal declaration of a trade dispute, resulted in the March 10, 2025 MoU. This agreement, which mandated the immediate restoration of dues deductions, was meant to resolve the ongoing conflict. However, WAEC’s alleged non-compliance has further escalated tensions, prompting NASU’s seven-day ultimatum. The union perceives WAEC’s refusal to honor the agreement as an act of lawlessness and a direct challenge to the authority of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
NASU’s demands include the immediate reversal of the March 14 memo halting dues deductions, full implementation of the March 10 MoU, cessation of the alleged victimization of union leaders, and strict adherence to national and international labor laws. Should WAEC fail to meet these demands within the stipulated seven-day period, NASU has vowed to pursue a multi-pronged course of action. This includes legal action, mobilization for a nationwide strike commencing March 24, 2025, formally reporting WAEC to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the ILO, and shutting down all WAEC operations across Nigeria. These threatened actions underscore the seriousness of NASU’s resolve and signal the potential for significant disruption to WAEC’s activities if the dispute remains unresolved. The union’s firm stance sets the stage for a potential showdown with WAEC, with the future of industrial harmony at the organization hanging in the balance.
