ANAN hails Buhari on corruption fight, transparency, urges state govts to adopt IPSAS

Tony Osauzo, Benin

President Muhammadu Buhari’s initiative in addressing the challenges of transparency, accountability, corruption and poor service delivery through Public Finance Management reforms has been commended by the Association  of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

‎President and Chairman of Council of ANAN, Alhaji Shehu Usman Ladan, who gave the commendation during the Association’s 3rd session of 2018  Mandatory Continuing Professional Development programme in Benin-City, noted that the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA) and e-payment have impacted positively on the country’s fiscal discipline as a nation.

The ANAN boss, however, urged President Buhari to address issues relating to delay in budget signing and budget reporting system to ensure a smoother planning process for better service delivery to the Nigerian people.

He said that the ANAN was on course in its determination to broadening expertise in International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Ladan explained that IPSAS would provide a great framework for achieving value in government utilisation of public funds and urged state governments across the country to adopt it (IPSAS), as it would help them in making decision in resource allocation.

His words, “We are ready to partner with any tier of government in training its workforce for the full implementation of IPSAS through the diffusion of knowledge and skills in IPSAS.

“The adoption of IPSAS will influence the operating procedures and reporting practices of public sector in Nigeria,” Ladan said.

In his speech, Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Philip Shaibu, urged ANAN “to produce a document that would be most beneficial to Nigeria and indeed Edo State in the handling of our Accounting Processes and Results”.