Reps Committee Grills WAEC Over N6 Billion Deficit, N5 Billion Loan for Customized Calculators

By Comfort Olayinka

The House Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has grilled the Head of National Office of WAEC Nigeria, Josiah Dangut, over a N6 billion deficit incurred in 2023.

Dangut was accompanied by top officials, including the Registrar and Acting Director of Finance, but the Committee was unsatisfied with their responses.

The Committee also questioned WAEC about a N5 billion loan taken in 2022 to purchase customized calculators, and demanded evidence of approval and due process.

WAEC provided the cashbook, but the Committee declined, insisting on bank statements from 2018 to date, which must be submitted within a week.

The Committee was piqued that WAEC only submitted one out of eight requested documents, and demanded explanations for generating N34 billion in 2023 but spending N40 billion.

The Chairman wondered how WAEC approved a N5 billion loan without proper authorization, and queried the number of students who participated in the 2022 elections that required the customized calculators.

WAEC was asked to provide evidence of expenditures leading to the N6 billion deficit, correspondence related to the calculator purchase, and proof of due process for the contract award and payment.

The Committee also demanded evidence of submission of accounts to the Auditor General from 2018 to 2023, and the profile of the external auditor.

Dangut pleaded for more time to present the required documents, explaining that the 50% payment for the Taraba office contract was made to avoid inflationary costs.

The Committee Chairman Oboku emphasized that the inquiry is not a witch-hunt, but a constitutional obligation to ensure accountability and transparency in WAEC’s operations.

“Both the legislative house and WAEC are bound by the Constitution. 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.

A member of the Committee, Awaji-Inombek Abiante described WAEC as uncooperative and shielded from accountability, saying they must be held accountable for their actions.

“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.