Reps ask states to pay N4billion debt owed WAEC

The House of Representatives has urged states owing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) the fees for sponsored candidates for the 2014 and 2015 exams to pay.

The resolution was the outcome of a motion of urgent public importance introduced on the floor by Linus Okorie (Ebonyi-PDP) and unanimously adopted by the members.
In his submission on the matter yesterday, Okorie expressed concern that over 600,000 candidates currently stand the risk of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results being withheld by the authorities.

It would be recalled that WAEC threatened to withhold the results of some candidates of 19 affected states over an alleged N4 billion owed the council. “The threat, if implemented, would affect more than half of the 1.2 million innocent young candidates that sat for the examination, disrupt their academic pursuit and disorient them psychologically.”

The lawmaker said the failure of the affected states to offset the alleged debt had led the council to bankruptcy.
His words: `”This alleged financial constraint is said to be negatively affecting the capacity of the council to meet its financial obligations, particularly its supervisors, examiners and service providers.’’
The House, therefore, resolved to constitute an adhoc committee to urgently intervene in the alleged debt crisis and report back within one week.

In another development, the Chamber yesterday urged the Federal Government to urgently address the menace of accidents involving fuel tankers in the country.
This was sequel to a motion introduced by Evelyn Oboro (Delta-PDP), who noted the alarming rate of accidents involving tankers carrying petroleum products leading to incidence of fire outbreaks which he said has claimed many lives and properties.

The motion was unanimously adopted by members during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
The House specifically expressed concern over recent incidents involving a tanker said to have suffered brake failure while ascending Ikorodu in Lagos State and lost control, leading to loss of three lives and consequent destruction of properties worth millions of naira.