The Nigerian Professional Accountants

Accountants Resolve to Make Inputs into Future Budgets

Accounting professionals in the country have resolved that they would not shirk their responsibilities, particularly in the area of making necessary inputs into the budgets of the Federal and State Governments.

They resolved thus at the end of a recent symposium on 2013 Federal Budget in Lagos, saying that they were more than ever determined to heed the wise counsel of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on this issue.

“The participants noted the call by the Governor of Lagos State that chartered accountants should be more alive to their responsibilities by making professional inputs into the budget process as well as monitoring the implementation of approved fiscal documents.

“They therefore resolved that they will not shy away from constructively expressing their opinions on government policies. In line with their public interest mandate, they will continue to engage governments at all levels in the long term interest of Nigerians,” the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated.

The institute was said to have organised the symposium in pursuit of its social responsibility duties and sought to critically analyse and appraise the implications of the 2013 federal budget and expectations from stakeholders in the economy.

According to the institute, about 760 chartered accountants participated in the one-day programme, which was graced captains of industries and leaders of thought.

While Fashola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Josephine Oluseyi Williams, declared the programme open, the institute’s President, Mr. Doyin Owolabi, delivered the keynote address on ‘2013 FGN Budget: Implications for Macro-economic Objectives’.

Prof. Anthony Akinlo of the Department of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, presented a paper on ‘Evaluation of 2012 FGN Budget’ while Prof. Mike Kwanashie of the Department of Economics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria x-rayed the ‘2013 Capital Budget and National Development’.

Established in 1965, ICAN prides itself as having produced world-class professionals, made remarkable contributions to the nation’s development through strict maintenance of high standards and regulation of the accountancy profession.

It also renders services to various parts of the country through its 47 districts across the states of the federation, United Kingdom and America in line with provisions of the International Federation of Accountants (IFACs) Statement of Membership Obligations (SMO).