The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) moved to reassure students and parents on Wednesday that the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will proceed without interruption, despite an ongoing protest by some members of its workforce.
In a statement issued from its Lagos headquarters, the Council affirmed that the examination, which began earlier this week, remains unhindered.
WAEC management stated it is currently in dialogue with the staff union to resolve grievances while maintaining the integrity of the testing process.
“The Council, as a law-abiding organization, respects the rights of unions and staff members to peacefully express their grievances,” said Moyosola F. Adesina, Acting Head of Public Affairs.
“Every necessary step has been taken to address the issue and safeguard the smooth conduct of the examination.”
The Council also used the briefing to clarify several points of contention raised by the union.
WAEC explained that a schedule adjustment, shortening the examination window, was due to a reduction in subjects from 76 to 38 and the transition to a hybrid examination mode.
The management dismissed claims of "incessant dismissals" as fallacious, stating that all career progression and disciplinary matters follow the official staff handbook.
It also defended the hiring of contract examination officers as a necessary step to manage increasing workloads across the sub-region.
WAEC urged the public to disregard rumors of a cancellation or delay, emphasizing that the future of the candidates remains the organization’s "topmost priority."
However, the workers' unions said the WASSCE examinations could be disrupted.
The Unions' Grouse
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) initiated a protest against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by General Secretary Peters Adeyemi on May 5.
The union accused WAEC management of a series of administrative infractions, including making unilateral changes to the WASSCE structure, ignoring seniority in career progression, and suspending staff upgrade programs.
NASU also cited grievances over recruitment practices, the unauthorized formation of investigative panels, and the imposition of a minimum net pay policy.
After a nationwide meeting of its branches, the union confirmed that the current protest could escalate into more significant industrial action if management fails to address these demands.
