NASU threatens to shut WAEC offices nationwide over alleged labor injustice, poor welfare, others

The union warned that failure to address these concerns would result in shutting down WAEC offices across Nigeria.

The National General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, made these allegations during a news conference at the union’s secretariat in Ikeja on Monday.

Adeyemi stated that WAEC had refused to honour a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on March 10 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja.

He condemned WAEC’s continued victimisation of workers and suppression of trade unionism.

“We are here to address critical issues of labour injustice and blatant suppression of trade unionism by the management of WAEC,” Adeyemi said.

According to him, WAEC had issued an internal memo on January 16 halting the deduction of NASU check-off dues, a move the union views as a retaliatory act against its members for engaging in a lawful strike.

As tensions escalate, NASU has threatened to mobilise for a nationwide industrial action if its demands remain unmet.

“We will direct all members of NASU in WAEC Headquarters, Yaba, and all WAEC offices nationwide to commence a comprehensive and total strike with effect from March 24,” Adeyemi warned.

The union has formally notified the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other relevant labour authorities of its planned action.

NASU members initiated a strike demanding the full implementation of a 30% salary increment, as previously agreed upon in December 2024. The union accused WAEC of unilaterally reducing the increment to 27.5% following the industrial action, which they perceived as a retaliatory measure against the lawful exercise of their rights.

The MoU mandated the immediate resumption of check-off dues deductions and addressed other welfare-related issues. However, NASU alleges that WAEC violated this agreement by imposing additional requirements not stipulated in the MoU, such as seeking individual consent from employees for dues deductions.

Adeyemi detailed that the March 10 agreement required WAEC to resume the deduction and remittance of NASU check-off dues immediately.

“WAEC’s refusal to remit the check-off dues is a direct violation of Section 5(3)(a) of the Labour Act, which states that once a trade union is registered and recognised, employers must deduct and remit dues without requiring additional consent,” he explained.

The NASU leader accused WAEC of deliberately sidelining union officials and refusing to engage with them.

“Therefore, we demand full implementation of the March 10 MoU, including automatic deduction and remittance of NASU dues,” Adeyemi said.

“Therefore, we demand full implementation of the March 10 MoU, including automatic deduction and remittance of NASU dues,” Adeyemi said.

“If WAEC fails to comply within seven days, NASU will initiate legal proceedings against WAEC for violating the Labour Act and Trade Unions Act,” he warned.