The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), has distanced itself from the nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The NLC and TUC had flagged a nationwide strike on Monday
after a four-hour meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on
Sunday evening in Abuja, failed to produce the desired results.
Following the commencement of the industrial action, a
statement by the Head of National Officer, Branch Controller, WAEC, T.A.Y
Lawson, on Monday, disregarded the strike, saying the conduct of theWest
African Senior School Certificate Examination goes on as scheduled despite the
nationwide strike.
“The attention of the management has been drawn to a notice
of the commencement of the indefinite strike by NLC and TUC effective from
Monday, 3rd June, 2024.
“Please be formally informed that the conduct of WASSCE SC
2024 goes on as scheduled,” the statement noted in part.
According to the statement, the commission said that as much
as it shared the concern of the unions and the generality of Nigerians, the
exams would go on across the member countries of WAEC and the Nigerian child
should not be put to a disadvantage of missing the exams.
“For the aforesaid reason, WAEC will conduct the exams and
school principals, supervisors, parents and the general public should please
take note and make adequate arrangements for their children to sit for the
exam,” the statement added,
The list of subjects to be sat for on Monday include;
Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative B), Computer Studies 3 (Practical),
Insurance 2 (Essay), and Insurance 1 (Objective).
The labour unions had said the current minimum wage of
₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker,
lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which
expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed
by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five
years to meet with contemporary economic demands of workers.