Workers of the West African Examinations Council have returned to their duty posts after suspending a three day nationwide protest, but issued a warning that fresh industrial action remains on the table if their sole demand is not met.

The employees, operating under the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, staged the protest at the council's national office in Yaba, Lagos, from Wednesday before calling it off on Friday. Chairman of NASU WAEC, Kayode Ogunyade, confirmed the suspension and disclosed that the union had narrowed its agitation to one demand: the removal of Head of National Office, Amos Dangut.

"The only subject we have now is that we have decided to put aside all other demands. We are now asking for one demand," Ogunyade stated in an interview.

When pressed on what that demand was, he declared, "The one demand which is our distinct demand now is that Dangut must go. That is the song we are singing now."

Ogunyade revealed that the decision followed failed meetings with WAEC management and the WAEC Pension Welfare Association after Thursday's protest, with no agreement reached on any of the union's concerns.

"At the end of the whole meeting, we could not achieve any results. We changed our song on Friday. We changed our agenda," he said.

He cautioned that the union retained the capacity for further action and was awaiting directives from its national leadership.

"The next line of action will be the next line of action. We are the ones who survived the previous protests. We have the potential to do it again," he stated.

Despite the tension, Ogunyade confirmed that examinations would proceed without disruption, adding, "Yes, everybody is back to work. Exams will still go on."

Workers had earlier marched from the WAEC headquarters in Yaba to the council's Special Printing Division in Somolu, carrying placards and raising concerns over intimidation, discriminatory practices, poor welfare, and career progression issues. The union also linked the protest to the victimisation of members following a December 2024 strike over minimum wage issues.

WAEC maintained that the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination remained unaffected, with the council's Public Affairs Department stating that examination activities were seamless throughout the protest period.