Gombe (Nigeria) — Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) says it will partner Nigerian government in its fight against corruption.
President of the Association, Shehu Usman Ladan, stated this Tuesday, while speaking with Journalists shortly after opening the fifth session of this year’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme in Gombe, saying, the Association would punish any member involved in corruption related offences.
He stated that the association has put in place an ethics and standard committee to sanction erring members with a view to curtailing rising cases of corruption in the country.
“Any of our member found wanting will face the visitation panel. If such a person is again found wanting, he goes to the discipline tribunal or higher court,” he said.
The ANAN president lauded the federal government for successfully managing the recession plaguing the country, stressing that the association is aware of government’s determination towards restoring the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to positive growth.
“Being a key player in public sector accounting, we are on course in our determination to broadening expertise in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) as it will provide a great framework for achieving value in government utilization of public funds and managing effects of the recession,” he said.
Ladan reiterated the association’s support for the ongoing anti-corruption war as well as efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in bringing looters of national treasury to book and recovering the nation’s stolen wealth.
He added that the association’s Society for Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention (SFAFP) is geared towards providing machinery for training, supervision and regulation of the practice of forensic accounting and fraud prevention.
The president called on members of the association to register with SFAFP in order to enhance their professional leverage and strengthen their efforts towards building a corrupt-free society.
While listing benefits of attending ANAN programmes to members to include improving skills to face challenges posed by changing trends in the profession among others, the ANAN president however threatened further sanctions to members who shun the association’s activities.
Those ANAN members that fail to attain its activities, according to Alhaji Ladan, stands the risk of denial of privilege to be elevated to hold office at branch level, delisting defaulting members name in the register of members of the association.
Also speaking the State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dakwambo, commended ANAN for choosing Gombe State to host the event aimed at training sound professionals in the field of accountancy.
The governor said since inception, his administration was aware of the importance of prudent utilization of scarce resources because the state was among others receiving the lowest allocation from the federation account.
“When I became Accountant-General of the state in 1999, I met less than ten professional accountants in the treasury department. It is worthy to note that we now have not less than one hundred and twenty. I have no doubt this will ensure accountability, transparency, probity, efficiency and effectiveness in the management of the finances of the state,” Dankwambo said.
This year’s theme for the MCPD programme is “Strengthening Public Sector Financial Management in Times of National Economic Recession” with seasoned professionals billed to deliver to further educate the members.
New ANAN members are also expected to be inducted into the association during the programme.
News Editor