Most probably this is because of missing telnet(1) or expect(1) commands in your installation, that the test suite ("make check") of ngIRCd relays on.
Right, expect has been missing:
# ./contrib/platformtest.sh platformtest.sh: Checking ngIRCd base source directory ... platformtest.sh: - source directory: ./contrib/.. platformtest.sh: - working directory: /root/src/ngircd-23 platformtest.sh: Checking for GIT tree ... platformtest.sh: Checking for "./contrib/../configure" script ... platformtest.sh: Running "./contrib/../configure" script ... platformtest.sh: Running "make" ... platformtest.sh: Running "make check" ...
the executable works ("runs") as expected --+ tests run successfully ("make check") --+ | ngIRCd compiles ("make") --+ | | ./configure works --+ | | | | | | | Platform Compiler ngIRCd Date Tester C M T R * --------------------------- ------------ ---------- -------- -------- - - - - - x86_64/unknown/linux-gnu gcc 5.3.0 23 15-12-14 root Y Y Y Y 1