Abuja, Nigeria — The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has strongly condemned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for alleged victimisation of its members and violating a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on March 10, 2025, at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.
NASU accused WAEC of deliberately ignoring the agreed terms outlined in the MoU, which required the examination body to resume deduction and remittance of check-off dues for NASU members.
Violation of Labour Laws and Union Rights
According to NASU, WAEC’s internal memorandum dated March 14, 2025, imposed an additional requirement for individual consent before remitting check-off dues — a condition that was not part of the MoU.
The union described this move as a deliberate violation of Nigeria’s Labour Act (Section 5[3][a]), which mandates employers to deduct and remit union dues once a trade union is registered and recognised. NASU further argued that WAEC’s action contravenes Nigeria’s Trade Union Act and breaches ILO Conventions 87 and 98, which uphold workers’ rights to unionize and bargain collectively.
Allegations of Victimisation
NASU also accused WAEC of targeting its officials in what the union described as an intimidation campaign. According to NASU, WAEC management has deliberately sidelined NASU officials at the Yaba office in Lagos and refused to engage with them.
In addition, NASU claimed that WAEC is planning to transfer NASU branch leaders in an attempt to weaken the union’s influence within the organization. The union argued that these actions were clear attempts to undermine NASU and punish its members for embarking on a lawful strike.
“WAEC seeks to cripple NASU financially and weaken its ability to represent workers by stopping check-off dues,” NASU stated.
The union further criticized WAEC for posting its internal memo on notice boards instead of formally communicating it to NASU officials, describing this move as deliberate exclusion and an act of bad faith.
Background to the Dispute
The dispute traces back to NASU’s industrial action in December 2024, when members staged a four-day strike from December 9 to December 12 to protest WAEC’s decision to implement a 25% salary increment — contrary to the 30% increase recommended by the jointly established Salary Review Committee.
The strike was suspended only after WAEC agreed to implement a 27.5% salary increment. However, NASU alleges that WAEC retaliated by ordering the stoppage of check-off dues through an internal memo issued on January 16, 2025 (Ref No. L/GAD/26/235).
NASU Demands Immediate Intervention
Speaking on the matter, NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, described WAEC’s actions as a “blatant suppression of trade unionism” and called on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to intervene urgently.
Adeyemi further accused WAEC’s Head of National Office (HNO) of undermining agreements, pointing out that WAEC initially refused to pay the recommended ₦30,000 monthly palliative to staff as proposed by a committee set up in response to Nigeria’s harsh economic conditions. Instead, WAEC paid ₦25,000 for three months before finally agreeing to the original ₦30,000 recommendation after NASU issued a seven-day ultimatum.
NASU maintains that WAEC’s continued defiance of agreements and efforts to stifle union activities represent a serious threat to industrial harmony. The union has vowed to take all necessary steps to protect the rights of its members.