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Labour’s nationwide strike won’t affect ongoing WAEC exam, says Controller

Published

6 months ago

June 2, 2024

The West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) has said that the nationwide strike scheduled for Monday will not disrupt examinations across the country.

The Branch Controller (Ekiti) confirmed this in 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, addressed to Principals and school heads in Ekiti State.

The Nigeria timetable for the examination began Tuesday, April 30, and will end 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.”

She noted that the examination body shares the burden of the unions.

As she said, students shouldn’t be at the receiving end because they miss 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 SC 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 reason above, 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.

This was corroborated by Ayobami L. Suberu, Branch Controller (Ogun) in a notice titled; “Commencement of Indefinite Strike by NLC and TUC.”

Suberu said; “The attention of WAEC Nigeria has been drawn to a notice of the Commencement of Indefinite Strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trades Union Congress (TUC) effective, Monday, 3rd June 2024.

“The Council shares the concerns of both Unions and the generality of Nigerians, however, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates which is currently going on in all member Countries is an international examination and as such the Nigerian Child should not be put to a disadvantage of missing the examination.

“As a result of the aforesaid reason, WAEC Nigeria will continue with the conduct the examination as scheduled on the timetable.

“All School Principals, Supervisors, Parents, Candidates and the general public should please take note and make adequate arrangements for their candidates to sit the examination in all centers in Ogun State as scheduled.”

Recall that the organised labour comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress announced the commencement of the strike on Friday due to a breakdown of negotiation on the proposed new minimum wage.