NASU issues strike notice to WAEC, may begin action October 14

Industrial crisis looms in the Nigeria Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) gear up for a nationwide strike that may commence on October 14, 2019.

In a letter marked NASU/WO/88/VOL.XIII/147 to Head of National Office of WAEC, General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi said the action, which commences on October 14, 2019 became necessary as the body failed to respond to a previous letter marked NASU/WO/88/VOL.XIII/137 and dated August 20, 2019.

It stressed that failure to respond to the correspondence showed that WAEC was unwilling to resolve the industrial disagreements.

NASU listed review of scheme of service, need to create more establishment for our members, unfair termination of appointment of Comrade Waziri Erinus, management’s refusal to implement the ex-gratia policy, dichotomy of payment allowance to members Serving Council’s Meetings, irregular recruitment of examination officers and incessant, unwarranted query to some union officers as some of the issues.

Adeyemi noted that though the union headquarters has been informed that work on re-review of scheme of service has reached advanced level, management’s reluctance to harmonise the grey areas was delaying its approval and operation.

“In view of the importance of scheme of service in daily administration, it is imperative that the Head National Office (HNO) not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk as he promised in one of the meetings with NASU executive branch committee.

“He should immediately set up a committee of management and NASU to work on the grey areas and come up with a scheme of service that meets international standard and yearnings of staff members,” he stated.

The union said the review of scheme of service has been lingering from 2013 till date without any positive resolution in spite of NASU’s favourable disposition to collective bargaining with WAEC’s management on the matter.

Adeyemi, who described the stagnation of officers in the Council as worrisome, said the situation was a clear case of injustice on the affected staff.

He said: “The truth of the matter is that the affected staff members are qualified and due for promotions, but they have been denied their due. I, therefore, seek the creation of additional establishments to take care of the affected staff in the spirit of fairness and equity.”