The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies on Tuesday interrogated the Head of the National Office of the West African Examination Council, Nigeria, Josiah Dangut, regarding a N6 billion deficit incurred by the agency in 2023.
According to The PUNCH, the inquiry took place during an investigative hearing, where the committee also scrutinized a N5 billion loan obtained by WAEC in 2022 for purchasing customized calculators.
Dangut was accompanied by WAEC’s Registrar, Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar, Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance, Segun Jerumeh, and Deputy Director of Finance.
Although Dangut presented the agency’s cashbook, the committee rejected it, demanding that WAEC submit its bank statements instead.
The committee, dissatisfied with the responses provided by the WAEC representatives, mandated that the examination body submit all its bank statements from 2018 to the present within one week.
Abmember of the committee, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, expressed frustration with WAEC’s lack of cooperation, stressing the importance of accountability.
“WAEC Nigeria was an uncooperative witness in this process, shielding and denying Nigerians the value of the country’s investment in that office. They should submit to this committee, in furtherance of this investigation, all the bank account statements of the office,” Abiante remarked.
The committee was displeased that only one of the eight requested submissions—the nominal roll—was provided by WAEC.
The panel demanded an explanation for how WAEC generated N34 billion in 2023 yet spent N40 billion.
Additionally, the committee questioned the approval process for the N5 billion loan, noting that even a ministerial board would not typically authorize such an amount.
WAEC was also queried about the number of students who participated in the 2022 examinations for which the N5 billion calculators were purchased.
The committee demanded a detailed account of the expenditures that led to the N6 billion deficit, along with all related correspondence regarding the purchase of the customized calculators.
Furthermore, the committee insisted on evidence of approval for the N5 billion loan and proof that due process was followed in awarding the contract, including payment records, vouchers, and bank statements.
WAEC was also asked to provide evidence of submitting accounts to the Auditor General for the Federation from 2018 to 2023, along with the profile and engagement letters of the external auditor for the past three years.
The committee additionally questioned WAEC for allegedly breaching financial and public procurement regulations by paying 50 percent of the contract value for constructing its Taraba state office, which was valued at N532 million.
In response, Dangut requested more time to present the required documents and statement of account, explaining that the 50 percent payment for the Taraba office contract was made to prevent a significant increase in costs due to inflation.
The committee chairman emphasized the need for WAEC’s full cooperation, stating, “Both the legislative house and WAEC are bound by the Constitution. As such, the committee expects full cooperation from WAEC, including the timely provision of all necessary documents to expedite our inquiry and report.”
