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Four representatives from the West African Examination Council (WAEC) were detained on Tuesday by the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services.
This action was taken after the officials failed to satisfactorily answer the Committee’s questions during an investigative hearing.
The detained officials include Amos Josiah Dangut, Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria; Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar; Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance; and Segun Jerumeh, Deputy Director of Finance.
Their detention followed a motion moved by Committee member Uchenna Okonkwo and seconded by Hon Marie Ebikake.
The crux of the dispute centred around whether WAEC is accountable to the Nigerian parliament.
During his presentation, Dangut asserted that WAEC is not an agency of the Nigerian government and, therefore not subject to parliamentary oversight.
This claim was vehemently opposed by the lawmakers who argued that WAEC Nigeria, being a creation of an Act of the National Assembly, must account for its activities to the parliament.
They emphasized that the National Assembly appropriates funds for WAEC, thus mandating its accountability.
“I would like to move a motion that while pending the investigation to look into the activities of WAEC Nigeria, the invited guests before it should be taken into custody and held at the police post while we seek solutions for these issues they are bringing upon Nigerians,” Okonkwo stated, leading to the officials being temporarily detained by the Sergeant at Arms.
Amidst uproar and heated exchanges, one of the WAEC officials protested, accusing the panel of unfair treatment.
Following a brief closed-door session, the Committee resolved to release the officials but mandated their return at a later date with the required documents.
The Committee Chairman, Hon Oforji Oboku, specified that WAEC must present audited financial statements from 2018 to date, and documents related to a ₦5 billion loan obtained in 2022 for purchasing customized calculators, among other items.
“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,” Oboku stated emphatically.
The Committee has scheduled another session for WAEC to present the requested documents, warning of potential sanctions if compliance is not met.