Teachers Shut Down WAEC Office Over Unpaid Allowances

Thousands of teachers in Benue State including those from secondary schools yesterday stormed the West African Examinations (WAEC) office in Makurdi, the state capital in protest and shut down the examination body.

The teachers claimed that the state WAEC office in Makurdi is owing them two months allowances because they had marked this year's examination papers. According to them, their colleagues from other states across the country have since been payed the allowances.

The protesting teachers, who marched to the WAEC office located along Government House road carried placards and documents which showed that they were truly being owed the allowances. The protest lasted for more than three hours.

The protest was however peaceful and devoid of violence but the teachers insisted that the authorities of the branch office must address them over the matter.

LEADERSHIP correspondent who visited the WAEC office yesterday reports that no official activities were allowed during the period of the protest as the aggrieved teachers closed the main gate to the premises. WAEC officials and vehicles were refused entry into the premises.

Meanwhile, an official of WAEC who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said, "The state coordinator has refused to talk to press because efforts are on to clear the allowances."