The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies conducted an extensive grilling of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), represented by Nigeria’s Head, Josiah Dangut, regarding a concerning deficit of N6 billion for the year 2023. Additionally, the committee sought clarification on a N5 billion loan that had been earmarked for the purchase of customized calculators, raising further questions about fiscal management and accountability.
Accompanying Dangut during the session held in Abuja on Tuesday were several key officials from WAEC, including Registrar Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance Segun Jerumeh, and Deputy Director of Finance. Their presence was intended to provide a comprehensive response to the committee’s inquiries and shed light on the examination body’s financial practices.
During the session, Dangut requested additional time to gather and present the required documentation. He specifically referenced a 50% payment that had been made towards the construction of WAEC’s office in Taraba state, explaining that this was necessary to prevent significant losses due to inflation. He highlighted the need to act promptly to mitigate the financial challenges posed by rising prices in the current economy.
The chairman of the committee reassured those present that the inquiry into WAEC’s financial activities was not intended to be a witch-hunt aimed at targeting individuals, but rather a constitutional obligation designed to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. The committee emphasized its role in carrying out oversight functions in accordance with democratic principles.
Despite WAEC generating N34 billion in revenue for the year 2023, the committee was alarmed to learn that expenditures had exceeded this figure, reaching N40 billion. Furthermore, the approval for a N5 billion loan without the proper authorization raised significant concerns. Committee members demanded detailed explanations for the deficit, a breakdown of expenditures, and all correspondence that pertained to the procurement of customized calculators.
Additionally, the committee insisted on receiving evidence of adherence to due processes, including comprehensive payment records and confirmation that accounts had been submitted to the Auditor General for review. While Dangut provided the committee with the agency’s cashbook, the responses were deemed insufficient, prompting the committee to order the submission of bank statements from 2018 to the present within a strict timeframe of one week. WAEC faced accusations of being uncooperative and withholding information critical to the inquiry.
During the discussions, committee member Awaji-Inombek Abiante was particularly vocal, describing WAEC’s conduct as uncooperative. He stressed the importance of holding WAEC accountable, noting that they must provide clarity on how public investments have been utilized effectively. “WAEC Nigeria displayed an uncooperative stance throughout this process, thereby denying Nigerians the value derived from any investments made in that office. They are required to submit all bank account statements to this committee in furtherance of this investigation,” he insisted.
In related news, speakers have warned that youth marginalization could pose a significant threat to social stability, with further discussions surrounding economic measures being taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Concerns have also been raised about the potential repercussions of imposing excessive taxes on bank foreign exchange gains, with bank directors indicating that such measures would place an undue burden on the financial sector.
The committee’s frustration grew as it noted that of the eight specific submissions requested from WAEC in order to investigate their financial activities, only one had been submitted: the nominal roll. The committee chairman reiterated the necessity for WAEC to clarify how they could generate N34 billion yet report expenditures of N40 billion. He questioned the reasoning behind WAEC’s approval of a substantial loan of N5 billion, emphasizing that even ministerial boards are typically unable to authorize such significant amounts.
Furthermore, the committee pressed Dangut on the number of students who had participated in the 2022 elections, querying how that participation was linked to the acquisition of the calculators in question. The committee underscored its demands for WAEC to substantiate the expenditures leading to the N6 billion deficit, alongside all correspondence related to the customized calculators’ purchase. Evidence was also requested to confirm the approval process for the N5 billion loan and the due diligence undertaken in securing the contract.
The committee insisted on obtaining proof of the due processes followed in awarding the contract, as well as all relevant payment documentation, including payment vouchers and any associated bank records. Additionally, the committee required evidence of WAEC’s submissions to the Auditor General of the Federation from 2018 through 2023, underlining the importance of transparency in financial reporting.
WAEC was further questioned regarding potential breaches of the financial, public procurement, and financial regulations Acts in relation to the 50% advance payment for the construction of its Taraba state office, which amounted to N532 million. Dangut made a plea for lawmakers to grant him another date to enable him to gather and present the necessary statements of account and other requested documents.
He elaborated on the rationale behind the 50% payment, explaining that it was a strategic decision aimed at avoiding astronomical increases in costs due to inflationary trends affecting the economy. Oboku, a member of the committee, emphasized that the Committee on Basic Examination Bodies was not a witch-hunting entity, but rather an institution dedicated to fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities as delineated in the national constitution.
“Both the legislative house and WAEC are bound by the Constitution, and as such, the committee expects full cooperation from WAEC, which includes the timely provision of all necessary documentation to expedite our inquiry and produce a complete report,” he stated, underscoring the high expectations for accountability and transparency in WAEC’s operations.
