By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has quizzed 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, Rep. Oforji Oboku, during an a probe with the Registrar of WAEC on Tuesday has requested that the relevant documents in respect to the loan be made available at the next sitting.
The Register who was represented by Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria, earlier in his submission stated that WAEC was not an agency of government, hence not accountable as other agencies.
But the committee members restated that WAEC Nigeria was a creation of an Act of the National Assembly, and must be accountable for all their activities to them; noting that the National Assembly makes appropriation 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 directed that the examination body 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 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,” he said.
The committee resolved to invite WAEC on a date that would be communicated. The committee also directed the officials to bring the required documents, else face sanctions.
Other WAEC officials at the hearing were Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar; Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance; Segun Jerumeh, Deputy Director of Finance, WAEC.