Workers at the West African Examinations Council in Nigeria took to the streets on Wednesday morning, launching a three day nationwide protest over unresolved welfare grievances and alleged unfair labour practices, even as 1,959,636 candidates sit the 2026 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination across 24,207 schools.

The protest, organised by the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, began at the WAEC national office in Yaba, Lagos at 8:00 a.m., with simultaneous actions at regional and state offices across the country.

NASU WAEC Chairman Kayode Ogunyade said the action, scheduled daily from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon, was designed to force management back to negotiations.

"The protest is to press home our demands and get management back to the table," he stated, adding a direct warning: "If these issues are not addressed, it simply means management is not ready to resolve them."

The protest followed the expiration of a seven day ultimatum contained in a letter dated 5 May 2026, signed by NASU General Secretary Peters Adeyemi and addressed to WAEC Head of National Office Amos Dangut. The letter, titled "Re: A Call For Immediate Stop to the Shady Recruitment Interview Practices," listed nine demands covering alleged irregular recruitment, poor staff welfare conditions, and other unresolved grievances.

Dangut had on Monday expressed confidence in the smooth conduct of the examination, assuring stakeholders that measures were in place to prevent a repeat of disruptions recorded during the 2025 edition, when some candidates reportedly wrote papers late into the night.

WAEC responded to the protest through Head of Public Affairs Moyosola Adesina, assuring the public that the examination remained unaffected.

"The West African Examinations Council wishes to reassure candidates, parents, school owners, stakeholders and the general public of its unwavering commitment to the seamless, hitch free and successful conduct of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates, 2026," the statement read.

The council dismissed allegations of indiscriminate dismissal and disproportionate sanctions, stating that all disciplinary matters were handled in line with its staff handbook. It added that management was already in dialogue with the union and urged the public to disregard misinformation about the examinations.

Ogunyade noted that any further action beyond the three day protest would be determined by NASU national leadership.