HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES QUERIES WAEC OVER N5B LOAN FOR PURCHASE OF CUSTOMISED CALCULATOR 24-07-24
By Sadiq Aminu 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.
The Chairman of the Committee, Oforji Oboku, during an investigative hearing with the Registrar of WAEC, who was represented by the Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria Dr Amos Dangut, the Committee demanded that relevant documents in respect to the loan be made available at the next sitting.
Oforji Oboku, insisted that WAEC 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.
Dr. Dangut had earlier in his presentation to the Committee posited that WAEC was not an agency of government, hence not accountable as other agencies.
But the lawmakers insisted that WAEC Nigeria was a creation of an Act of the National Assembly, hence must account for all their activities to them.
They pointed out that the National Assembly makes appropriation for WAEC.
The Committee also pointed out that WAEC’s convention dictates that they must submit to the legislation of any of its member countries.
“You are not different from any other agency, saying you are not an agency of 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 oversight you. You cannot come here and say WAEC is not an agency of government,”
Mr. Oboku, insisted that the WAEC officials bring the requested documents, or the body would be sanctions.