The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appealed to organised labour to consider the plight of students sitting for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE), as it plans to embark on an indefinite strike.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, Dr. Amos Dangut, the Head of the National Office of WAEC, emphasized the importance of the ongoing exams and urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to consider the students’ academic future.
“The attention of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been drawn to a notice of the commencement of an indefinite strike by NLC and TUC effective Monday, June 3,” Dangut said. “WAEC shares in the concerns of the generality of Nigerian workers, as most of its employees in Nigeria consist of members of both unions.”
He highlighted that WAEC employees, who are part of the NLC and TUC, have always played a significant role in the successful implementation of the council’s mandate. Dangut reminded the unions about the ongoing WASSCE, which commenced on April 30 and is scheduled to end on June 24.
“The week, June 3 to June 7, is scheduled for the conduct of such papers as Physics, Economics, Government, and Civic Education across the federation and some West African countries,” he added. “Any disruption in the activities and arrangements for the conduct of the examination will place candidates at a major disadvantage in their academic pursuits.”
Dr. Dangut concluded by appealing to all stakeholders and unions to allow the continuous smooth and peaceful conduct of the examination as scheduled. “We remain committed to excellence and the service of the Nigerian people within the mandate of the council,” he stated.
The call from WAEC comes as the organised labour continues to plan its industrial action over unresolved issues, potentially impacting various sectors, including education.
