By NASIRU MUHAMMAD & ADAMU ABDULLAHI
KANO state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has
observed that the bottom line of all hues and cries over corruption in the
country is not unconnected with the failure of accountants to live up to
their professional calling and stand firm against all corrupt practices.
Malam Shekarau who made the observation
yesterday at the opening of the National Conference on Ethical Issues in
Accounting held at Bayero University Kano (BUK), stated that it is near
impossible to commit financial fraud without the knowledge, if not the
connivance of an accountant or complacency of the auditor.
He added: �The fact that some of our
politicians and captains of industries and businesses are, today, mired in
one financial fraud or the other goes to show that more and more people in
place of authority in our dear nation are betraying their trusts and the
means of checking their excesses.�
Malam Shekarau who emphasized on the need for
accountants to imbibe the habit of transparency and prudent accounting,
said, no nation can prosper if it lacks honest people and people of proven
integrity in places of authority.
According to him, as accountants and teachers,
they should hold past to the ethic, of the profession which is principally
based on honesty and integrity.
The governor who disclosed that the state civil
service has recorded remarkable achievements as a result of the provision of
necessary inceptives, added that promotion in the civil service has been
restored after years of suspension.
He noted that the state government has revived
civil service procedures on guidelines for spending and accountability that
have been neglected over the years.
The governor stated that the Societal
Re-orientation Programme initiated by his administration has incorporated
all sections of the society, pointing out that the insistence on commitment
to good example by leaders who are constantly reminded through self critical
assessment measures is worthy an effort.
He urged the institution to fully support the
programme because they share the same aspiration for better society built on
solid foundation of honesty and integrity.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion
who is also the former vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Musa
Abdullahi who described ethical issues of accounting as fundamental,
commended the department for organizing the conference.
Also speaking, the Head of Accounting Department, Dr. Kabir Isa
Dandago commended the administration of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau for its
financial backing towards making the conference a success.
