Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has tasked accountants in the state, especially Directors of Finance and Accounts (DFAs), on competence and professionalism geared towards taking the state to the next level of development.
Engineer Sule laid the charge on Wednesday, while declaring open a 3-Day Refresher Workshop for Directors of Finance & Accounts, Bursars, Head of Accounts in Nasarawa State Civil Service, holding at the Kini Country Hotel, in Akwanga.
While commending the organizers of the training workshop, being the first of its kind in the life of the administration, the Governor underscored the high level of significance placed on competence and professionalism in accounting either in government, private or public sector.
Citing from his verse background knowledge of various financial accounting systems such as the Oracle, Statutory Accounting Procedure (SAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Engineer Sule called on the participants to make use of the opportunity of the training as they prepare to take Nasarawa State to the next level.
“As you are aware, accountability and transparency are critical in the effective Public Financial Management and Reporting. It is for this reason that it becomes necessary to engage our heads of accounts on this Workshop in order to ensure that resources are used efficiently and ethically,” he stated.
While noting that lack of accountability, transparency and probity breeds inefficiency, diminishes productivity, discourages investments and poverty among other negative impacts, the Governor said the workshop was organized in order to strengthen the capacity of heads of accounts and to provide them with necessary knowledge and tools for effective and efficient service delivery, in line with modern accounting trends.
Engineer Sule used the opportunity to stress the significance his administration attached to transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
“My dear participants, realizing the importance of transparency and accountability as key elements for a responsive Government, we have provided online portals for the publication of our financial records ranging from Appropriation Laws, Monthly and Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports, Accountant-General and Auditor-General Reports, Procurement Process, among others. This is with a view to entrench the culture of transparency in our State,” he said.
Engineer Sule equally identified gaps within the state financial system which he said his administration would address, especially rotating DFAs, with a view to giving them space to adequately understand the system, as well as prepare them for higher responsibilities.
“I am calling on you especially the resource persons, to ensure that our DFAs truly understand their roles and truly understand how to prepare our financials properly. And also understand how to do their disclosures completely,” he added.
For the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Planning, Hon. Munirat Abdullahi, accountants are stewards of integrity, transparency, and accountability, who are committed to elevating the state’s financial landscape to unprecedented heights.
“One of our primary goals is to enhance our internally generated revenue. Let us harness the wealth of resources Nasarawa State possesses through innovative strategies and efficient tax collection, we can secure the funds crucial for development projects,” she stated.
She described accountability as the bedrock of her ministry, stressing that accountants must not only manage funds judiciously but also ensure that every naira is accounted for.
On her part, the Head of Civil Service, Abigail Waya, said the training was facilitated towards breaching the gap in skills and understanding of the digital world, with a view to impacting knowledge on the participants on how to use technology for accountability and transparency in Nasarawa State.
In his welcome address, Accountant General of Nasarawa State, Ahmed Mohammed, said the essence of the training was to refreshen and update the knowledge of the participants, as well as improve their capacity by introducing new trends of events in financial management.
The training session was put together by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning under the office of the state Accountant General, with the theme, “Overcoming Challenges on Financial Transparency and Accountability at the Sub-National Level”.
