Reps Grill WAEC Over N6bn Deficit, N5bn Loan For Calculators

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has queried the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Nigeria’s Head, Josiah Dangut, over a N6 billion deficit in 2023 and a N5 billion loan for customized calculators.

Dangut, who appeared before the committee on Tuesday in Abuja, pleaded for more time to present the required documents.

However, the committee was dissatisfied with WAEC’s responses and ordered the submission of bank statements from 2018 to date within a week.

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The committee chairman stated that their inquiry was not a witch-hunt but a constitutional obligation to ensure transparency and accountability. He expressed concern over how WAEC generated N34 billion in 2023 but spent N40 billion and approved a N5 billion loan without proper authorization.

“We are not a witch-hunting committee, but we are focused on fulfilling our constitutional obligations,” the committee chairman said.

Dangut explained that the 50% payment for the Taraba state office construction was made to avoid inflationary losses. However, the committee demanded explanations for the deficit, expenditures, and correspondence related to the calculator purchase.