President Muhammadu Buhari has charge accountant to avoid the use of illegal means in discharging their duties, saying that they are the first set of gatekeepers who ensures that all transactions are prudently carried out.
Buhari, said this through the Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, who made the remarks in a message at the 22nd yearly general meeting of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), in Abuja, with the theme: “Sustainable Economic Management in a Recession” where he represented the president.
“In all these spheres, the role of accountants cannot be over-emphasised,” he said, adding that the administration’s resolve to combat corruption with enhanced transparency and accountability had come to stay.
“To strengthen the fight against corruption, we launched the Whistle Blower Protection Policy and presented as Whistle Protection Bill 2016 to the national assembly in order to ensure and protect Nigerians for supporting this fight. A firm implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) since September 2015 has significantly enhanced transparency in the Federal Government’s Public Financial Management System,’’ he said.
The president further said that his administration firmly believed that if the numerous resources were appropriately accounted for; corruption duly checked; patriotism will be deeply embibe in everything.
Meanwhile, the President of ANAN, Alhaji Shehu Ladan, commended the efforts of government in the management of recession and the prospects in the Economic Recovery He however, advised government that as a matter of policy, there should be provision to ensure that all registered companies submit audited accounts in efforts to drive revenue, adding: “More individuals will be employed and that shall men more taxes from Pay As You Earn.”
“President Buhari has continually pushed the agenda for enhancing Nigeria’s global image by always demonstrating Nigeria’s credentials. The Government’s stance against corruption-related vices have soared the image of the country in the comity of nation,’’
“The politics and struggles over oil money have turned Nigerian away from the production in favour of consumption. With a high and rising population, dependence on oil money has unleashed poverty on the masses while systemic corruption has unleashed great inequalities of income and wealth.
“If the various governments of the country are able to increase taxation to about 20 per cent of national incomes, we should be able to generate about N28 trillion per annum, given our Gross Domestic Products of about N140 trillion.
“When there are no more free oil funds to share, then the various governments in the federation would be compelled to do everything possible to push taxation towards the 20 per cent threshold,” the accountant said.