WAEC examination unaffected, as CONUA joins strike

Though the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, called out their members on a nationwide strike, the conduct of the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, WASSCE, by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, went smoothly on Monday.

Candidates who were to write French Language were able to do that without any hitch despite the strike by members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT.

Speaking on the development in a chat with Vanguard, the Public Relations Officer of WAEC, Moyo Adesina, expressed gladness that the candidates were able to write their papers unhindered.

“Yes, we are happy that the candidates were able to write French Language and one other paper today without any hindrance despite the strike called by the labour leadership, ” she said.

This is just as the members of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, have been directed to join the nationwide industrial action by the leadership of the union.

In a statement by National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, said, “The national leadership has been meeting and contacting the TUC since yesterday on the strike action declared by the NLC/TUC on the minimum wage. We would like our members to know that this is a strike action declared by the two labour centres, one of which our Union is affiliated with.  CONUA is hereby identifying with this decision of the TUC.

“The national leadership regrets the delay in communicating this position to our teeming members. It was due to the “in-house” clearing procedure.”

Meanwhile, students in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State were on Monday disappointed as they got to their school premises to find their teachers unavailable.

Speaking on the development, Lagos State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Hassan Akintoye, said the teachers had no choice other than to join the strike.

“Our members are part of the strike. We are affiliated to the NLC and whatever decision is eventually taken is binding on us too. The students would also understand that the struggle for the benefit of all, ” he said.