‘HNO Must Go’ — WAEC Workers Declare After 9-Hour Talks End in Deadlock

LAGOS— The crisis rocking the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in Nigeria has taken a dramatic new turn as workers have called for the immediate termination of the appointment of the council’s Head of National Office (HNO), Dr. Amos Dangut, adding a fresh and explosive dimension to their ongoing grievances over unresolved welfare issues and alleged unfair labour practices.

The workers, operating under the aegis of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) , WAEC branch, made the demand at the weekend following a marathon nine-and-a-half-hour meeting between the union’s branch leadership and WAEC management last Thursday. The meeting, which began at approximately 6:30 p.m. and stretched into the early hours of Friday morning, ending around 3:00 a.m., concluded in a deadlock with no resolution on the majority of the workers’ demands.

According to the Chairman of NASU, WAEC branch, Mr. Kayode Ogunyale, in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, workers have now resolved that the only path to peace within the examination body is the removal of the HNO. Ogunyale accused Dr. Dangut of being unwilling to address the contentious issues raised by the workers, noting that while their original demands were nine, the list had increased to 12 issues during the course of the agitation.

“But out of the 12 issues,” Ogunyale pointed out, “management only agreed to address five, which are less critical, leaving out the remaining seven.” He emphasized that the deadlock occurred despite the extraordinarily long hours spent in negotiations. “We started the meeting around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and ended around 3:00 a.m. on Friday, with three recesses, yet only five minor issues were addressed,” he added.

Ogunyale stated that the matter should not have degenerated to this level if management had handled it with caution, especially with final-year secondary school students nationwide currently taking their terminal examinations. He noted that the union was initially moderate in its approach to show concern for the students, but management’s unfavourable handling of the issues forced their hand.

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The workers’ demands, which have now expanded, include the suspension of staff upgrade programmes affecting career progression, the introduction of a minimum net pay policy, the formation of disciplinary panels without union representation, and disregard for seniority in promotions. Other grievances include the alleged victimisation of workers, irregular recruitment practices, unfavourable changes in the WASSCE framework (including the reduction of examination subjects from 76 to 38 and corresponding shortening of the exam period), and excessive workload.

Ogunyale declared that the workers are now convinced that the HNO, as the Chief Administrative Officer of WAEC Nigeria, is not “ready to shift ground.” He revealed that the union’s position had fundamentally shifted as a result of the failed negotiation. “So, our number 13 agenda — which is for him to go — has now become the only agenda before us. We informed him of this last Friday during the meeting and have communicated it to our national body. We just do not want him again as our HNO,” Ogunyale said.

While declaring that their next line of action would depend on directives from the NASU national body, Ogunyale vowed that WAEC workers would not back down on their demand for the HNO’s removal, even ahead of the completion of his tenure, which is scheduled to end in September 2026.

The three-day nationwide warning protest conducted by NASU last week — from Wednesday, May 13, to Friday, May 15, 2026 — temporarily paralysed activities at WAEC offices across the country, including the national headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, and regional and state offices nationwide. The protest, which ran daily from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon, saw workers carrying placards and singing solidarity songs while demanding improved welfare conditions and an end to what they described as “impunity” and “discriminatory practices” within the examination body.

The industrial action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued by NASU’s national leadership to WAEC management regarding the nine critical issues. In a letter dated May 5, 2026, and signed by NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the union warned that workers would embark on a protest if management failed to address the concerns within the stipulated timeframe. The letter was titled: “Re: A Call For Immediate Stop to the Shady Recruitment Interview Practices.”

The union’s grievances, as contained in the letter, included the suspension of staff upgrade programmes, imposition of a minimum net pay balance policy, unilateral constitution of investigative panels without consultation, reduction of WASSCE duration, coordinated attempts to weaken the union, breach of seniority principle in appointment and placement, incessant dismissals and disproportionate sanctions, examination for promotion, and indiscriminate recruitment of contract Examination Officers and Assistant Examination Officers.

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In response to the initial protest and the union’s demands, WAEC management, in a letter dated May 8 and signed on behalf of the HNO by the Director of Administration, Eucharia Onodu, denied the allegations, insisting that the council operates within established conditions of service and has remained responsive to staff concerns. The management noted that it had looked at the policy on minimum net pay and decided to suspend it forthwith, with a memorandum circulated to that effect.

Regarding the reduction in the number of days for the conduct of WASSCE, WAEC management explained that the decision was based on directives from the Federal Ministry of Education “in view of the realignment/allocation of subjects.” The examination body clarified that the adjustment in examination days was necessitated by the streamlining of WAEC subjects from 76 to 38, and consequently, the shortened number of days reflected the new number of subjects vis-à-vis the hybrid mode of examination conduct.

However, the union rejected this explanation, arguing that the change was implemented without adequate consultation and that students and teachers had not been properly prepared for such a significant shift in the examination framework. This issue was one of the seven that management allegedly refused to address during the marathon meeting.

When contacted on Sunday for a reaction to the union’s demand for his removal, Dr. Amos Dangut told the Nigerian Tribune to contact the council’s spokesperson, Mrs. Moyosola Adesina (also identified as Moyosola F. Adesina), for a response, saying: “Get in touch with the Head of Public Affairs and direct your enquiry to her.”

However, when Mrs. Adesina was reached, she stated that she was not aware of the call for the HNO’s removal. In earlier press statements issued during the three-day protest, Adesina had reassured candidates, parents, school owners, stakeholders and the general public of WAEC’s unwavering commitment to the seamless, hitch-free and successful conduct of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, 2026.

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Her statement read in part: “While we are concerned about the rights of unions and staff to express their grievances, we are also committed to ensuring seamless and smooth conduct of the ongoing examination.” The council maintained that all disciplinary and career progression matters are handled in line with the WAEC staff handbook and relevant statutory provisions, describing the union’s assertion of “incessant dismissal and inappropriate sanction” as “fallacious.”

The ongoing WASSCE, which commenced on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, involves a total of 1,959,636 candidates from 24,207 schools nationwide. This represents one of the largest examination cohorts in WAEC’s 74-year history of conducting assessments in Nigeria.

The current crisis is not the first industrial action threat by WAEC workers since Dr. Dangut assumed leadership. In December 2024, a salary review committee recommended a 30 per cent salary increase for staff, but WAEC management only implemented a 25 per cent increase, prompting NASU to call for a four-day strike. The strike ended after NASU and WAEC reached a compromise, securing a 27.5 per cent increase.

However, NASU alleged that even after the strike’s resolution, WAEC management continued retaliatory actions, including issuing an internal memo ordering the stoppage of NASU check-off dues deductions. The union noted that WAEC’s actions had violated not only the Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2025 but also Nigeria’s Labour Act, specifically Section 5(3)(a), which mandates that once a trade union is recognized, employers must automatically deduct and remit union dues without requiring further consent.

As the crisis deepens, Ogunyale has made it clear that the union is prepared to escalate its actions if the demand for the HNO’s removal is not met. “We have communicated this to our national body,” he reiterated. “Further actions will be dictated by the NASU national body, but we will not back down on our demand for the HNO’s removal — even ahead of the completion of his tenure in September.”

Meanwhile, WAEC management has not issued any formal response to the specific demand for Dr. Dangut’s removal. The council’s Public Affairs Department has maintained that dialogue remains open and that management is committed to resolving the issues through established channels.

The unfolding situation represents one of the most serious labour crises in WAEC Nigeria’s recent history, with the potential to disrupt not only the welfare of its workers but also the integrity and smooth conduct of examinations for millions of Nigerian students. As one of Africa’s largest examination bodies, the resolution of this crisis is critical — and with the union now making the HNO’s removal its “only agenda,” the path to resolution appears increasingly uncertain.

‘HNO Must Go’ — WAEC Workers Declare After 9-Hour Talks End in Deadlock

JAMB Opens Change of Institution Process, Announces Result Slip Printing Date

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced the commencement of the 2026 UTME change of institution and course process for candidates seeking to modify their admission choices.

The announcement was made on Friday in a statement issued by JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, via the board’s official communication channels.

According to the statement, candidates who wish to switch their preferred institutions or programmes can now begin the process by visiting any accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre nationwide.

“Candidates wishing to change their institution or programme of choice may now proceed to do so by visiting any of the Board’s approved CBT centres,” the statement read.

JAMB also disclosed that the printing of the original 2026 UTME result slips will officially commence on Monday, May 18, 2026.

The board advised candidates to visit accredited CBT centres to print their result slips and access other official services linked to the admission process.

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The development comes weeks after JAMB released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results for candidates across the country.

At the initial stage of the result release, candidates were only able to check their scores through SMS using the board’s designated shortcodes, while printing of the official result slips was temporarily unavailable.

JAMB had earlier explained that candidates could check their results by sending “UTMERESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number used during registration.

The examination body also warned candidates against manipulating or falsifying their scores, stressing that result forgery constitutes a criminal offence.

According to the board, two candidates and one parent were earlier arrested over alleged result falsification using artificial intelligence and other electronic means.

JAMB further stated that candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions are expected to print their original result slips ahead of post-UTME screenings, admission verification, and other admission-related exercises.

Education stakeholders believe the opening of the change of institution portal will give candidates the opportunity to reassess their admission chances based on their UTME scores and the cut-off marks of their preferred institutions.

The 2026 admission process is expected to gather momentum in the coming weeks as universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education prepare to release admission guidelines and screening schedules.

JAMB Opens Change of Institution Process, Announces Result Slip Printing Date

Lagos Rejects JAMB’s 150 Cut-Off Mark, Sets 185 for State Universities

The Lagos State Government has announced that candidates who score below 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not be admitted into any of the state-owned universities, despite the lower benchmark approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, disclosed this on Wednesday during a ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa to mark the third anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

Sule rejected JAMB’s approved minimum cut-off mark of 150 for university admissions, describing it as too low for institutions owned by Lagos State.

“To us in Lagos State, the cut-off marks approved by JAMB look too low for our universities. None of our three universities is admitting any student who scored below 185 in the UTME,” the commissioner stated.

He argued that Lagos State could not afford to lower its educational standards to align with states classified as educationally disadvantaged.

“For JAMB to announce 150 as the cut-off mark out of the 400 obtainable marks in the UTME for this year’s admission seekers is very low. Lagos cannot be considered educationally disadvantaged to the extent of bringing its cut-off mark down to meet what Sokoto or Zamfara states require,” Sule added.

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The development comes after JAMB and heads of tertiary institutions approved 150 as the minimum benchmark for university admissions during the 2026 policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

However, under Nigeria’s admission system, universities retain the right to set higher cut-off marks depending on competitiveness, available spaces and institutional standards.

Lagos State currently operates three major universities: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).

According to Sule, the expansion from one state university to three was part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s broader strategy to improve access to higher education while maintaining quality.

“Increasing our universities from one to three is still part of what the governor is doing to provide more educational platforms and opportunities for Lagos residents,” he said.

“And increasing the number to four is still part of this effort by the state government to give all admission seekers the opportunity to get tertiary education in Lagos.”

The commissioner also revealed that the Lagos State Government was already working with the Ministry of Health on legislation to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences in the state.

If established, the proposed institution would become the fourth state-owned university in Lagos and is expected to strengthen medical education, healthcare research and manpower development in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Sule stressed that the state government would continue investing heavily in education infrastructure, academic staffing and improved access to tertiary education without compromising standards.

Education stakeholders say Lagos State’s decision may increase competition among candidates seeking admission into its institutions, particularly LASU, which remains one of Nigeria’s most sought-after public universities.

The announcement also comes amid concerns over the performance of candidates in recent UTME examinations.

Recent statistics released by JAMB showed that a significant percentage of candidates scored below 200 in the last UTME exercise, sparking nationwide debate over declining academic performance and admission standards.

Despite criticism from some stakeholders, JAMB has maintained that the 150 benchmark merely represents the minimum national requirement and does not prevent universities from adopting higher standards.

Lagos Rejects JAMB’s 150 Cut-Off Mark, Sets 185 for State Universities