The Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), WAEC branch, has blamed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) management’s 24-hour examination material distribution policy for the tragic death of three staff members who died in a road accident during the 2026 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The deceased Eleshin Dennis Olayinka, Dan-Malam Add’ua Muhammed, and Yusuf Umar Gwamna lost their lives when the pickup van conveying examination materials along the Gombe Yola Road was involved in a head-on collision with an oncoming trailer that reportedly veered off its lane.
To honour the fallen workers, NASU members held a candlelight service and procession in Lagos, while colleagues from WAEC offices across the country joined virtually to pay tribute to the deceased.
In a statement jointly signed by NASU Chairman Kayode Ogunyade and Secretary Adewola Adeyemi, the union described the victims as dedicated officers who died in the line of national duty.
NASU, however, alleged that the accident could have been avoided if WAEC management had not insisted on reducing the operational timeframe for printing and distributing examination materials from the traditional 48 hours to 24 hours.
The union said it had repeatedly warned management that the compressed schedule would expose workers to excessive pressure, fatigue, inadequate rest, and increased safety risks, but its concerns were ignored.
According to NASU, the former 48-hour schedule allowed staff enough time to safely transport sensitive examination materials across Nigeria’s challenging road and security conditions.
The union also rejected claims that the deaths of the three workers were responsible for delays in the conduct of some examination papers, describing the explanation as misleading and an attempt to shift attention from operational shortcomings.
NASU called on WAEC management to adopt worker-friendly policies, improve staff welfare and working conditions, and ensure such a tragedy never happens again, insisting that employees deserve conditions that meet international best practices.
