NASU Issues 7-Day Ultimatum to WAEC Over Worker Victimization and MoU Breach

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over what they describe as ongoing victimisation of their workers and non-compliance with a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed on March 10, 2025, at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.

During a press conference held in Lagos on Monday, NASU announced that if WAEC fails to meet their demands within the week, they will mobilise all NASU members at the WAEC headquarters in Yaba and across other WAEC offices nationwide to initiate a comprehensive strike action starting on Monday, March 24.

In addition to the strike, NASU plans to pursue legal action against WAEC for breaching the Labour Act and the Trade Union Act. They will also notify the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other relevant labour authorities regarding WAEC’s violations.

NASU’s demands include the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of a memo dated March 14, 2025, the full implementation of the MoU from March 10, 2025—which encompasses the automatic deduction and remittance of NASU dues—the cessation of all forms of victimisation and unlawful transfers of NASU leaders, and adherence to labour laws and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions that safeguard trade union rights.

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Prince Peters A. Adeyemi, the general secretary of NASU, stated at the conference that the agreement reached on March 10, 2025, was facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as a follow-up to a trade dispute filed against WAEC. He highlighted that the agreement required WAEC to resume the deduction and remittance of check-off dues for NASU members. However, in an internal memo dated March 14, 2025, WAEC allegedly undermined this agreement by imposing an unnecessary requirement for individual consent, which was not stipulated in the MoU.

Adeyemi asserted, “WAEC’s refusal to remit check-off dues violates section 5 (3)(a) of the Labour Act, which mandates that once a trade union is registered and recognised, employers must deduct and remit dues without seeking further consent. This also breaches Nigeria’s Trade Union Act and ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which protect workers’ rights to freely associate and negotiate collectively.”

He added that NASU has consistently sought peaceful dispute resolutions and has adhered to due process by bringing the matter to the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s attention. “However, WAEC has completely disregarded the reconciliation process and continues with anti-union actions despite an agreement being in place,” he noted.

Adeyemi concluded with a strong warning: “WAEC must immediately reverse its unlawful actions and comply with the signed MoU. Failing to do so will lead to a significant and ongoing industrial action to safeguard workers’ rights. NASU will not sit idly by while WAEC undermines trade unionism and victimises its workers.”