Rep  Investigates WAEC Boss Over N6b Deficit, N5b Loan

Abuja, Nigeria- The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has launched an investigation into the West African Examination Council (WAEC) following a reported N6 billion deficit for 2023.

During the inquiry session held on Tuesday, Josiah Dangut, Head of the National Office of WAEC Nigeria, faced questioning.

He was joined by Registrar Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance Segun Jerumeh, and the Deputy Director of Finance.

The Committee scrutinized a N5 billion loan WAEC secured in 2022 for the purchase of customized calculators.

Despite receiving WAEC’s cashbook from Dangut, the Committee dismissed it and demanded bank statements instead.

The investigation revealed dissatisfaction with WAEC’s responses, prompting the Committee, chaired by its head, to mandate WAEC to submit all bank statements from 2018 to the present within one week.

Committee member Awaji-Inombek Abiante criticized WAEC for its lack of cooperation and called for greater transparency.

“WAEC Nigeria has been uncooperative, impeding the scrutiny of public investments. They must provide all bank statements for further examination,” Abiante asserted.

The Committee expressed frustration with WAEC’s incomplete documentation, noting that only one out of eight requested documents—the nominal roll—was provided.

Questions were raised about WAEC’s financial management, including how the organization reported N34 billion in revenue for 2023 while spending N40 billion, and how a N5 billion loan was approved without apparent Ministerial Board consent.

The Committee demanded details on the number of students who took the 2022 exams related to the calculator purchase, clarification on the N6 billion deficit, correspondence concerning the calculators, and proof of approval for the N5 billion loan.

Meanwhile, evidence of due process in contract awards, payment records, and submissions to the Auditor General from 2018 to 2023 were requested.

The Committee also sought the profile of the external auditor and engagement letters from the past three years. WAEC was questioned about possible violations of financial and public procurement regulations related to a N532 million contract for its Taraba office.

Dangut requested additional time to provide the required documents, citing the need to pay a 50% deposit to address inflation-related cost increases.

However, Chairman Oboku emphasized the Committee’s commitment to its constitutional responsibilities and expected full cooperation from WAEC.

“Both the legislative house and WAEC are bound by the Constitution. We expect WAEC to fully cooperate by providing all necessary documents promptly to facilitate our inquiry and reporting,” Oboku concluded.