Lawmakers at the House of Representatives
House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into the National Examination Council (NECO) over claims of financial misconduct, including alleged spending beyond approved budget limits.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Amobi Ogah (Labour Party – Abia) during Thursday’s plenary session.
While presenting the motion, Ogah cited Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to summon individuals or request documents from any government body for investigative purposes.
According to him, NECO, as a revenue-generating agency, must be held to high standards of transparency and accountability.
> “NECO is allegedly implementing its virement without the required legislative approval. If this is so, it is a flagrant violation of our Constitution and inherent powers of this honourable House as enshrined in it,” Ogah told lawmakers.
He further called for a thorough review of NECO’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and overall budget performance from 2023 to date. This includes scrutiny of the council’s bank account statements and records of remittances to the Federation Account over the same period.
The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, directed the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies to handle the investigation.
The committee has been given three weeks to conduct the probe and present its findings to the House.
