BY ELIZABETH ODUJE
Barring further developments, the industrial action by staff of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Asaba, Delta State capital, has entered its second week, showing no signs of resolution.
The industrial action, led by the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU-WAEC), is centred on disputes over salary increments and demands for job security.
The Chairman of NASU-WAEC in Asaba, Mr Affe Eguono, who participated in the protest, said the union finds the management’s offer of a 25 per cent salary increase unacceptable.
‘’Our demand remains a 30 per cent salary increase and nothing less. This strike action is indefinite until our demands are met,” he firmly declared. According to Eguono, the union is also protesting the dismissal of several staff members over what they describe as unsubstantiated allegations.
He emphasized that the reinstatement of these employees is a critical part of their demands. “This protest is about more than just salary increments; it is also about the unfair termination of our colleagues. We demand their immediate reinstatement’’.
“The union has made it clear that our members are prepared to return to work as soon as their conditions are met. However, we remain resolute in our stance, vowing to sustain the strike until our grievances are addressed. We have endured years of neglect, and it is time for the management to prioritize the welfare of its staff,” a union representative added.
As of the time of filing this report, WAEC management has yet to release an official statement regarding the strike. However, sources indicate that a meeting between the management and union representatives has been scheduled, raising hopes for a possible resolution to the impasse.
