Nigeria's WAEC staff launch three‑day nationwide protest over management policies

Staff of Nigeria's West African Examinations Council (WAEC) began a three‑day nationwide protest on 13 May 2026. The action, organised by the Non‑Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), targets a range of grievances including alleged unfair labour practices, suspension of a staff upgrade programme, the unilateral introduction of a minimum net‑pay policy, concerns over recruitment procedures for Examination Officers and Assistant Examination Officers, and changes to the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

NASU gave WAEC management a seven‑day ultimatum to resolve the issues; after the deadline passed, its branches voted unanimously to proceed. WAEC management denied many of the allegations, stating that the minimum‑net‑pay policy had already been suspended, that disciplinary actions follow established conditions of service, and that exam‑related changes follow directives from the Federal Ministry of Education. The council affirmed its commitment to conducting a smooth 2026 WASSCE for 1,959,636 candidates across 24,207 schools.

The protest follows similar industrial actions in 2024 that disrupted WAEC offices in Lagos. No official statement on the current protest’s outcome has been issued as of this report.