Teachers’ strike could force suspension of WASSCE

The Nigeria Union of Teachers has said it is participating fully in the Nigeria Labour Congress strike and as such, the ongoing West African Secondary School Certificate Examination should be suspended.

However, Head of the Nigeria National Office West African Examinations Council, Dr Amos Dangut, in an interview with The PUNCH appealed for an exemption from the strike to enable the Council to conduct the ongoing West WASSCE without disruptions.

But the Secretary General of NUT, Dr Mike Ike-Ene, said NUT was the worst hit in earning ridiculous salaries in Nigeria.

The Organised Labour had declared a nationwide strike, which began on Monday, June 3, 2024, over the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

When asked how WASSCE would hold if NUT decided to participate fully in the strike, Ike-Ene insisted,

“Let WASSCE find its level, they only give stipends to teachers, they don’t pay us. You cannot say you will be loyal to someone who only pays you. If WASSCE will not hold, let it be, we are not serious at all in the country,” he said.

On Monday, June 3rd, when the strike commenced, candidates had Physics 1 and 2 (essay and objective), for Tuesday, the exam paper is Economics 1 and 2 (essay and objective), French 1 and 2 (essay and objective).

Ike-Ene while speaking on the strike, said, “I issued a letter over the weekend instructing all our members to participate in the strike. We are fully engaged because we have been severely impacted. Are you aware that some Local Government Areas have not paid the N30,000 minimum wage?

“Additionally, Borno State has failed to meet the minimum wage requirement of N18,000; in Sokoto and some other places in the north people are still going home with N12,000. We are fully committed to the directive until a new minimum wage is established. We have communicated this directive clearly to our members,” he asserted.

Punch