Unpaid Salaries: ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike

Academic activities at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) have been paralysed following the commencement of an indefinite strike by the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over unpaid salaries, welfare concerns, and alleged breaches of agreements by the university management.

The union announced the industrial action after negotiations with the university authorities reportedly failed to yield positive results.

In a statement issued by the ASUU-UNICROSS Chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie, the union accused the institution’s management and the Cross River State Government of failing to implement the approved salary structure and welfare packages for academic staff.

According to the statement, lecturers have withdrawn from all academic activities, including lectures, examinations, senate meetings, departmental meetings, and faculty board sessions, until their demands are fully met.

ASUU said the strike became unavoidable after several meetings with management ended without concrete commitments on the issues raised by the union.

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Dr Ushie disclosed that the university management admitted it lacked the financial capacity to meet the demands of lecturers.

“They told us that their hands are tied because they do not have the funds to implement our demands,” he stated.

According to him, the management revealed that the institution currently receives about N300 million monthly as government subvention but requires an additional N200 million to fully address the lecturers’ demands.

The union also lamented that a letter sent to Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, seeking intervention had yet to receive any official response.

Among the key demands listed by the union is the immediate implementation of the financial and non-financial components of the 2025 FG-ASUU renegotiated agreement.

ASUU further demanded the payment of all outstanding salaries and arrears resulting from the 35 percent and 25 percent wage awards approved for university workers since January 2023.

The lecturers also called for the prompt payment of monthly salaries on or before the third day of every month to prevent future delays.

In addition, the union demanded payment of earned academic allowances, promotion arrears dating back to July 2011, and other entitlements captured under the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement.

ASUU accused the university authorities of failing to remit over N11.9 million in check-off dues owed to both the local branch and the national body of the union since 2017.

The union also alleged that deductions from cooperative contributions and welfare levies belonging to staff members had not been remitted as required.

According to ASUU, the indefinite strike will remain in force until all demands are fully addressed by the university management and relevant government authorities.

The development has triggered concerns among students and parents over possible disruptions to the academic calendar at UNICROSS, especially amid growing industrial disputes in Nigeria’s public university system.

Efforts to get a response from the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Francesca Bassey, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to her mobile line were not answered at the time of filing this report.

The latest industrial action adds to ongoing concerns about poor funding, unpaid allowances, and welfare challenges facing lecturers in many Nigerian public universities.

Unpaid Salaries: ASUU Begins Indefinite Strike

UTME 2026: JAMB Gives Fresh Update on Original Result Slip Delay

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified why the printing of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) original result slips has not yet begun, urging candidates to remain patient as key administrative processes are still ongoing.

Speaking through its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB explained that the delay is mainly due to the conclusion of UTME sittings for foreign examination centres and ongoing preparations for the mop-up examination for candidates who were unable to sit for the main exercise through no fault of theirs. The board said these processes must be fully completed before the result slip printing portal can be activated.

The board further emphasized that the UTME is a ranking examination, meaning candidates are not only scored but also positioned based on performance relative to others. It noted that the original result slip contains these ranking details, which makes it necessary to finalize all verification and processing steps before releasing the slips to ensure accuracy and fairness.

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JAMB assured candidates that the printing portal will be activated as soon as all necessary adjustments are concluded. It added that official communication will be made available to inform candidates when they can proceed with printing their result slips, advising them to disregard speculation and wait for formal announcements.

The board also reminded candidates that the UTME result slip is an important document required for post-UTME screening, admission clearance into tertiary institutions, and changes of course or institution. While the original slip is not yet available, candidates can still check their results through SMS and other official result-checking channels provided by the board.

The delay has, however, generated reactions from candidates on social media, with many expressing concern over admission timelines and post-UTME deadlines. Despite the frustration, JAMB maintained that the delay is temporary and necessary to ensure a smooth and credible admission process.

Overall, the board stressed that there is no issue with candidates’ results and that the delay is purely administrative. It reassured the public that the printing process will commence shortly once all outstanding examinations and verifications are completed.

UTME 2026: JAMB Gives Fresh Update on Original Result Slip Delay

‘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