WAEC appeals for exemption from nationwide strike to ensure smooth conduct of ongoing WASSCE

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The Head of the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Dr. Amos Dangut, has appealed for an exemption from the strike initiated by the organized labor to allow the council to conduct the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) without disruptions.

The WASSCE, which began on April 30, is scheduled to end on June 24, 2024.

The nationwide strike, which started on Monday, June 3, 2024, was declared by organized labor in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

In his statement, Dangut expressed empathy for the plight of Nigerian workers but stressed that preventing candidates from completing the WASSCE would place them at a global disadvantage.

“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. 

“WAEC shares in the concerns of the generality of Nigerian workers, as most of its employees in Nigeria consist of members of both unions. 

“It is also worthy of mention that the unions have always been partners with WAEC in the successful implementation of its mandate through the years. 

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“On this premise, therefore, we wish to, however, gently remind the unions  of the ongoing conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)  for School Candidates, 2024. 

“The examination commenced in Nigeria and other member-countries of WAEC,  The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone, on April 30, and is scheduled to end by 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,” the WAEC boss said. 

He also stated that any disruption to the activities and arrangements for conducting the examination would significantly disadvantage candidates in their academic pursuits and therefore appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate. 

“We hereby appeal to all stakeholders and the unions  to cooperate with the council, as always, to allow the continuous smooth and peaceful conduct of the examination as has been scheduled”, he said.