At the 53rd Annual Accountants’ Conference hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Accountants called on Federal government to promote inclusive economic growth and fiscal reforms to uplift the standard of living of Nigerians.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Innocent Iweka Okwuosa, FCA, President of ICAN, opined that government plays a significant role in driving economic growth, emphasizing that such development must be inclusive in order to be truly beneficial.
Okwuosa 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.
Although, ICAN boss applauded the Federal Government for the recent daring economic reforms, but emphasized that the country’s economic changes should lead to economic development.
He emphasized the qualities of successful economic policies such as employment creation, industrial growth facilitation, and long-term development in health, education, and agriculture, among others.
Dr. Innocent Okwuosa praised the government’s strong economic reforms thus far and expressed hope that they will lead to long-term progress.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ably represented by Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, stated that his government was determined to build a better Nigeria by leveraging the training and experience chartered accountants.
Chief Adelabu, who is also a chartered accountant, asserted that “accountants should play a role in inclusive development for the benefit of the nation.”
He assured that the government would continue to hold rigorous discussions with ICAN on revolutionary measures that would promote equitable development and alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
On the other hand, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, stated that people are living in poverty due to poor health, poor living standards, poor nutrition, and a lack of jobs, a situation that the current administration of President Tinubu must address head on.
“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.
The event featured Governors of Edo and Anambra States, Godwin Obaseki and Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo and other national dignitaries.
