Josiah Dangut: Reps squeezes WAEC boss over N6 Billion deficit, 5 Billion loans

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies squeezed Josiah Dangut, the Head of National Office for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Nigeria, regarding a significant N6 billion deficit reported by the agency in 2023.

This inquiry took place during an investigative hearing aimed at uncovering the causes behind the financial shortfall.

Dangut, along with senior WAEC officials including Registrar Angus Okeleze and Senior Deputy Registrar Victor Odu, was asked to explain the financial discrepancies.

The Committee also scrutinized a N5 billion loan obtained by WAEC in 2022 for purchasing customized calculators. However, the Committee rejected WAEC’s cashbook submission, insisting on receiving complete bank statements from 2018 to the present within one week.

Committee member Awaji-Inombek Abiante criticized WAEC for its lack of cooperation, emphasizing the need for accountability.

The Committee demanded that WAEC provide evidence of expenditures leading to the N6 billion deficit, approval for the N5 billion loan, and all relevant documents related to the purchase of the calculators.

The Committee also questioned WAEC’s financial practices, particularly concerning a N532 million contract for constructing its Taraba State office, which saw 50% of the payment made upfront, allegedly to avoid rising costs due to inflation.

Dangut who pleaded with the lawmakers to give him another date to enable him to present the statement of account and other documents demanded

He also explained that he had to pay 50 per cent of the Taraba office contract sum to avoid the astronomical rise in the inflationary trend in the country.

Oboku said the Committee on Basic Education Examination Bodies is not a witch-hunting committee but is focused on fulfilling its constitutional obligations as outlined in the constitution.

“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.