The chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola has called on the newly elected President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Alhaji Ismaila Zakari and other members of the ICAN national council to initiate collaborative effort with the National Assembly for its institutional development and growth in the interest of the accountancy profession and development of the nation.
In a goodwill message at a Gala Night to mark the 47th Annual Conference of ICAN at International Conference Centre, Abuja over the weekend, the Lagos West Senatorial District representative at the Senate said there are about 40 members of ICAN in the 8th National Assembly stressing that ICAN should not find it difficult to canvass its position on matters relating to the accountancy profession and other accounting issues of importance to national development.
“I am a professional in politics like the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo. The institute should see us as their representatives in politics. There are many accounting issues that come up on the floor of both chambers of the National Assembly including attempts to smuggle in rival accounting bodies through legislation. As members of the institute, we need the official position of the institutes on most of these issues which can be adequately canvassed by members of the institute in the National Assembly” the Fellow of ICAN stated.
Senator Adeola regretted that most of the time members of the institute had to scramble to kill ongoing consideration of bills proposing rival accounting organizations on the floor of the chambers without inputs from the institute adding that a proliferation of accounting bodies in Nigeria will not augur well for the profession and its standing internationally particularly in the International Federation of Accountants, IFAC.
The Fellow of ICAN reiterated that there is no way the war against corruption can be fought successfully without the collaboration of the accountancy profession stressing that accountants should join the present administration’s fight against corruption for the development of the country.
Earlier on in a welcome address the ICAN President Alhaji Zakari commended members of the institutes that ventured into and are successful in politics adding that they are role models for upcoming accountants on the various levels the profession can take them in national affairs.
He reiterated that ICAN will continue to ensure that standards are maintained and improved upon in the profession as well as ensure that Nigeria abides by all best international practices of the accountancy profession.
Dignitaries at the occasion includes Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, the chairman of Jaiz Bank Plc, Alhaji Dankwanbo, the Governor of Gombe State, Senator Kola Bajomo, a former president of ICAN and over 4000 accountants in various sector of Nigerian economy.
Earlier in the day, Senator Adeola had received a 30-man delegation of ICAN members from United Kingdom led by its chairperson, Mrs. Bim Osunsami during a courtesy call in his office at the Senate as part of their participation in the 47th annual conference.
