Reps interrogates WAEC over N5b loan for purchase of customised calculator

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has queried the West African Examination Council, WAEC, Nigeria over a N5 billion loan it obtained in 2022 for the purchase of a customised calculator.
Chairman of the Committee, Oforji Oboku, during an investigative hearing with the Registrar of the examination body on Tuesday demanded that relevant documents in respect to the loan be made available at the next sitting.
The Register was represented by Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria.
Other WAEC officials at the hearing were Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar; Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance; and Segun Jerumeh, Deputy Director of Finance, WAEC.
Dangut had earlier in his presentation to the Committee posited that WAEC was not an agency of government, hence not accountable as other agencies.
However, the lawmakers insisted that WAEC Nigeria was a creation of an Act of the National Assembly and hence must account for all their activities to them.
They pointed out that the National Assembly makes appropriations for WAEC.
The lawmakers also pointed out that WAEC’s convention dictates that they must submit to the legislation of any of its member countries.
The Committee Chairman said they must bring the audited statement of accounts of the examinations body from 2018 till date.
The Chairman said WAEC cannot operate outside the supervision of the National Assembly.
“You are not different from any other agency, saying you are not an agency of the government. We are not here to witch-hunt you. WAEC is subject to Nigeria’s laws. We have reviewed the position and we have all the powers to oversee you. You cannot come here and say WAEC is not an agency of government,” he said.
He said WAEC would be invited at a later date.
He insisted the WAEC officials bring the requested documents, else there would be sanctions.