Account For N40bn Expenditure Despite Generating N34bn, Reps Tell WAEC

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has said the West African Examination Council (WAEC) must explain how it generated N34 billion in 2023 but spent N40 billion.

The committee also gave WAEC a one-week ultimatum to submit all its bank statements from 2018 to 2023.

These resolutions were reached at an investigative hearing in Abuja on Tuesday regarding the N6 billion deficit the council incurred in 2023.

The panel also grilled the examination body about a loan of N5 billion it received in 2022 to purchase customised calculators.

The Head of WAEC in Nigeria, Josiah Dangut, provided the council’s case book to the Committee, but it declined, insisting that the examination body submit its bank statements.

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A member of the Committee, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers), described WAEC as uncooperative and said they must be held accountable.

“WAEC Nigeria was an uncooperative witness in this process, shielding and denying Nigerians of having value for whatever investment the country has had in that office should submit to this committee in furtherance of this investigation all the bank account statements of his office,” he said.

The committee’s chairman, Hon. Oboku Oforji, wondered how the examination body could approve a loan of up to N5 billion when even a ministerial board could not approve such an amount.

The committee demanded that WAEC must provide the expenditures that have led to the N6 billion deficits and all correspondence related to the purchase of customised calculators.

It said evidence of approval for the 5 billion naira loan to purchase the customised calculators must be provided

The committee also demanded evidence of due process in the contract award and proof of payment, including payment vouchers and bank records.

The Committee also demanded for evidence of submission of accounts to the Auditor General for the Federation from 2018 to 2023

It also demanded the profile of the agency’s external auditor and the engagement letters for the past three years.

The Committee also queried WAEC for breaching the financial, public procurement, and economic regulations Acts over the payment of 50 per cent of the contract for constructing its Taraba state office, worth N532 million.

Dangut pleaded with the lawmakers to give him another date so that he could present the statement of account and other documents demanded.

He also explained that he had to pay 50 per cent of the Taraba office contract sum to avoid the astronomical rise in the country’s inflationary trend.

The chairman said the Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies is not a witch-hunting committee but is focused on fulfilling its constitutional obligations as outlined in the constitution.

“The Constitution binds both the legislative house and WAEC. As such, the committee expects full cooperation from WAEC, including the timely provision of all necessary documents to expedite our inquiry and report,” he said.