THE NON-ACADEMIC Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), on Monday, alleged labour injustice, poor workers’ welfare package and victimisation of labour leaders by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
NASU’s General Secretary, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, made the allegations at a news conference held at the union’s secretariat in Ikeja.
He said that failure to address the issues would result in the shutting down of WAEC offices in Nigeria by NASU members in WAEC.
“We are here to address critical issues of labour injustice and blatant suppression of trade unionism by the management of WAEC.
“NASU condemns WAEC’s continued victimisation of workers and its refusal to abide by a legally-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) executed on March 10 at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Abuja,” he said.
Adeyemi said that NASU and WAEC reached an agreement on March 10, which was facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment as a follow up to a trade dispute filed against the management of WAEC.
“On Jan. 16, WAEC management issued an internal memo, ordering stoppage of NASU check-off dues.
“This action was perceived by NASU as an act of victimisation against NASU members for embarking on a lawful strike.
“The March 10 agreement mandated WAEC to immediately resume deduction and remittance of check-off dues for NASU members.
“However, WAEC through its internal memo of March 14, is deliberately violating this agreement by imposing an unnecessary requirement for individual consent, which was not part of the MoU,” he said.
Adeyemi said that WAEC’s refusal to remit the check-off dues violated Section 5(3)(a) of the Labour Act.
“This states that once a trade union is registered and recognised, employers must deduct and remit dues without requiring additional consent.
“This action also contravenes Nigeria’s Trade Union Act, as well as International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, which guarantee workers’ rights to freely associate and bargain collectively,” he said.
He alleged that NASU officials at WAEC were being deliberately sidelined, adding that WAEC management was refusing to engage with them.
He alleged that WAEC was also planning to transfer NASU branch leaders as a retaliatory measure to weaken the union in the council.
Adeyemi said that NASU had always advocated peaceful resolution of disputes and followed due process by reporting matter to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“Therefore, we demand full implementation of the March 10 MoU, including automatic deduction and remittance of NASU dues,” he said.
The unionist also demanded an end to all forms of victimisation and unlawful transfer of NASU leaders.
“WAEC must respect labour laws and ILO conventions that protect trade union rights,” he said.
“If WAEC fails to comply within seven days, NASU will initiate legal proceedings against WAEC for violating the Labour Act and Trade Unions Act.
“We will mobilise for nationwide industrial action across all WAEC offices and notify the Federal Ministry of Labour, Nigeria Labour Congress and other labour authorities.
“We will direct all members of NASU in WAEC Headquarters, Yaba, and all WAEC offices nationwide to commence a comprehensive and total strike with effect from March 24,” he said. (NAN)
