During an investigative hearing on Tuesday, the Head of the National Office of the West African Examination Council Nigeria, Josiah Dangut, faced questioning from the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies regarding a N6bn deficit incurred by the agency in 2023.
The committee also scrutinized the examination body about a N5bn loan taken in 2022 for the procurement of customised calculators.
In attendance with Dangut were WAEC Registrar, Angus Okeleze; Senior Deputy Registrar, Victor Odu; acting Director of Finance, Segun Jerumeh; and Deputy Director of Finance at WAEC.
Dangut presented the agency’s cashbook to the committee, but they insisted on reviewing the agency’s bank statements instead.
Due to unsatisfactory responses from the WAEC representatives, the committee mandated WAEC to submit all bank statements from 2018 to the present within a week.
Committee member Awaji-Inombek Abiante criticized WAEC for being uncooperative and stressed the importance of accountability.
Abiante stated, “WAEC Nigeria was not forthcoming during this process, hindering transparency. They must provide this committee with all office bank account statements for further investigation.”
The committee expressed disappointment when only one out of eight requested submissions from the examination body to justify their expenses was provided – the nominal roll.
The panel sought clarifications on how WAEC managed to generate N34bn in 2023 but spent N40bn, as well as how the agency approved a N5bn loan without ministerial board authorization.
Queries were directed at the WAEC Head regarding the number of students involved in the 2022 exams for which the N5bn calculators were procured.
WAEC was asked to disclose details of expenditures leading to the N6 billion deficit and all documents related to the customised calculator acquisition.
The committee demanded proof of approval for the N5bn loan used for purchasing customised calculators and evidence of due process in awarding the contract, including payment records and bank statements.
Furthermore, the committee requested proof of accounts submitted to the Auditor General for the Federation from 2018 to 2023.
They also sought information on the agency’s external auditor profile and engagement letters for the last three years.
Questioning WAEC’s breach of financial regulations, the committee highlighted the payment of 50 percent of the N532m contract for constructing its Taraba state office.
Dangut asked for more time to provide the statement of the account and other required documents to the lawmakers, justifying the urgent payment to prevent cost escalation due to inflation.
The panel chairman emphasized the obligation of both the legislative house and WAEC to cooperate under the Constitution, urging prompt submission of necessary documents to advance the inquiry and report.