Nigeria’s minister Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, has admitted the federal government alone cannot fight corruption and has called on the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), to support the anti-corruption fight of the Buhari administration by creating systems that promote transparency and make it difficult for diversion of resources.

Senator Udoma who made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when the executive of the Institute visited him, said the fight against corruption must be a collective one, and professional bodies like ICAN have a critical role to play if the fight is to be successful.

He explained that corruption has been the bane of development in the country which is why the Buhari administration is focused on tackling it so as to save resources for human and infrastructure development.

To build a strong and prosperous nation, the minister said we have to work together with strong resolve and never give up notwithstanding any frustration.

The government, he said, does not believe in jettisoning projects because it was initiated by a previous government, rather it builds on the good ones and reviews others in line with the policy direction of the administration. “We have to build on what is good, and tweak what is not so good until we arrive at what is desirable. You do not make investors suffer simply because a new government is in place, by abandoning or cancelling projects”, he added.

The ICAN President, Alhaji Razak Jaiyeola, noted the strides recorded by the Ministry despite the challenges and resource constraints it is facing; and said the Institute is encouraged by the significant success recorded with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) which the government initiated to rejig the nation’s development process. “Indeed the record of achievements of the Plan confirms that the country is truly on the path of sustainable and inclusive growth”, he added.

 

While expressing concern over delays in the passage of national budgets, the President wants ICAN to be part of the engagement process in budget preparation since the preparation of the annual Fiscal Strategy which entails revenue framework, expenditure framework, priority areas and MDAs’ strategic thrusts require skills and competences which are the inherent assets of professional accountants.

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