By Olusegun Obisanya
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated that Chartered Accountants have crucial roles to play in achieving Nigeria’s inclusive economic development and growth..
He stated this while declaring open the 53rd Annual Accountants’ Conference in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
He was represented by the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
Determined to build a better Nigeria by leveraging the training and experience of chartered accountants, Tinubu asserted that “accountants should play a role in inclusive development for the benefit of the nation.”
In a statement, the President was credited to have assured that the government would continue to hold rigorous discussions with the ICAN on revolutionary measures that would promote equitable development.
In his opening remarks, President, ICAN, Dr. Innocent Okwuosa, stated that government plays a significant role in driving economic growth. He emphasised that such development must be inclusive in order to be truly beneficial.
According to him, “only accountants can ensure inclusive economic development.”
While applauding the Federal Government recent bold economic reforms, ICAN President urged the Federal Government to implement macroeconomic and fiscal reforms to address the nation’s current difficulties of poor infrastructure, weak and ineffective institutions, a poor public financial management system, and inadequate health care services.
Okwuosa, however maintained that the economic reforms should transform to economic development.
He also highlighted the qualities of successful economic policies such as employment creation, industrial growth facilitation, and long-term development in health, education, and agriculture, among others.
On his part, Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele stated that people are living in poverty due to poor health, poor living standards, poor nutrition, and lack of jobs.
He called on the Federal Government to address the state of helplessness Nigerians are in.
“Today, it’s not only a problem of tax collections for expenditures but more importantly, how we use the tax collected for the growth of the nation,” he said.
He highlighted immediate answers to the current economic issues as better tax collection, better budgeting, better spending, management, and reporting, adding that government must be made accountable to the people.
