Buhari Seeks Accountants’ Support in War against Corruption

Association unveils whistleblower initiative to checkmate employers, clients
Ndubuisi rancis in Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has solicited the support of Nigerian accountants in his administration’s anti-corruption campaign, even as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) launches a whistleblower initiative designed to expose employers and clients who indulge in underhand activities.

Buhari, who sought the hand of fellowship of accounting professionals, pleaded with them to initiate steps to counter tendencies towards corruption.

Represented by the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Alhaji Idris Ahmed, the president, while declaring open the 47th annual conference of ICAN in Abuja yesterday, admonished accountants and auditors to put Nigeria first in all their professional endeavours. According to Buhari, accounting and auditing “play key roles in public finance management through the provision of reliable financial positions of businesses in both public and private sectors.”

He noted that in order to effectively do this, data integrity “is paramount to guarantee accuracy of liabilities and comparability,” just as he urged ICAN to consider the need to review its curriculum to include the impact of cyber crime and security.

While appreciating ICAN’s efforts in supporting his administration’s anti-corruption campaign through the establishment of the whistleblower support fund and accountant disciplinary tribunal,
Buhari stated that Nigeria in the modern age “must entrench a system that would motivate and encourage our teeming youths to focus on innovation as key to achieving long lasting competitive edge.”

Buhari said his administration “will continue to support, encourage and motivate our youths towards self reliance with emphasis on agriculture, science and technology,” adding that “Nigeria of our dreams is one that must prepare itself for global competition not only in recruitment space but also in the delivery of goods and services to
the citizens in line with the SDGs.”

He stressed that the process of arriving at this “is a collective responsibility; Nigerians must work together and all hands must be on deck for our nation to be on the path of sustainable economic growth and development.”
“Our journey towards a united and prosperous nation envisages a strong patriotic competent and highly productive manpower,” he noted, adding that his government “remains committed to tackling unemployment, improving productivity and ease of doing business.

He said: “We remain resolute to deliver good governance to Nigerians, transparency and accountability remain key elements in the general conduct of government businesses hence this administration is fully committed to timely implementation of accrual based international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) with a view to deepen public financial management reforms.”

In his address, ICAN President, Mr. Isma’ila, disclosed that “the institute in its continuing efforts to sharpen its professional ethics and contribute to nation building, has recently adopted the revised global ethical code on non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR).”

This code, he disclosed “is a whistleblowing initiative which mandates accountants and auditors to expose any act of non compliance to laws and regulations by their employers and clients to relevant authorities.”
Zakari said guides professional accountants and auditors on actions to be taken in the public interest when they become aware of potential illegal acts committed by their employers and clients.

In course of the conference, Zakari stated that the institute will
launch the ICAN accountability index during the conference. The index he said “is the first of its kind mechanism for assessing public finance management and public governance practices of Nigerian public sector institutions including the federal, state and local governments.”

Chartered accountants, he said “should be ready to lead the way by combining our talents with strategy to bring together like minded stakeholders to brain storm and formulate practical solutions to our nation’s problems.”

Zakari lamented that Nigeria is “sitting on a powerful and deadly time bomb in terms of unemployment. Our council is of the firm belief that with regards to unemployment the government cannot do it alone and we all have to put all hands on deck and save the future of our teeming youths in all parts of our country.”

The ICAN President noted that “there will be concurrent sessions which will deal with keys issues in our profession such as integrated reporting, cyber security, Islamic finance etc. which will be interactive.”

He said: “At the end of the conference, we will learn of the new opportunities and challenges of the sprofession and new innovations as well as invaluable professional contacts gained through networking opportunities.”