WAEC Says Exams Continue Monday Despite Labour Strike

The ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will go on Monday regardless of the nationwide strike action called by the organised labour, the Ekiti Branch Controller of the West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC), Mrs T.A.Y. Lawson, has said.

Mrs Lawson stated this in a letter to Principals and school heads in Ekiti State via a letter titled, “Notice of Commencement of Indefinite Strike by NLC and TUC” with reference number EK/BC/SC/EXAM/07/Vol.1/89 late Friday.

The timetable for Nigerians students for the examination commenced on Tuesday, April 30 and scheduled to end on Thursday June 20, 2024.

The letter read, “The attention of Management has been drawn to a notice of the Commencement of Indefinite Strike by NLC and TUC effective, Monday, 3rd June 2024.

“Please be formally informed that the conduct of WASSCE SC 2024 goes on as scheduled,” the letter reads.

Lawson noted in the letter that the examination body shares the burden of the unions, but added that the students should not be at the receiving end by missing the ongoing examination in Nigeria and some West African states.

“In as much as we share the concerns of the unions and the generality of Nigerians, the WASSCE is going on across the member Countries of WAEC and the Nigerian Child should not be put to a disadvantage of missing the exam.

“For the aforesaid reason, WAEC will conduct the exam and School Principals, supervisors, parents and the general public should please take note and make adequate arrangements for their candidates to sit the exam.

“Kindly be guided accordingly,” it concluded.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had declared a nationwide strike action from Monday, June 3, 2024.

The Organised Labour took the decision after its negotiation with the Federal Government ended without a truce.

Labour has accused the government of lacking commitment in negotiations on the new minimum wage and demanding a reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.