ICAN boss, others warn politicians to shun corruption

• As BBC Professionals commissions office complex

By ABDUL OLALEKAN

Chartered accountants in the country have warned political office holders to shun corruption to put the nation’s economy on the path of growth.

The accountants who spoke at the commissioning of BBC Professionals new office complex known as Charter House in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, urged people entrusted with managing institutions, either in public or private sectors across the country to be professional and imbibe ethics in the dictates of their duties.

Speaking in an interview with Business 247 News Online on Tuesday at the commissioning of the office complex, the President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Titus Soetan, said corruption will not take the country to get to its dream land, and thereby called on government to be prudent in spending, especially, during the current economic recession.

Soetan, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said he was happy about the plan of the Federal Government to borrow 29.96 billion dollars external loans to execute key projects in the country, stating that if the fund is used for the purpose meant for, it will have a positive multiplier effect on the economy.

According to him, “Government must be prudent in spending, builds infrastructure, constructs rail and road projects so that people can be engaged, because as it stands, there is massive unemployment and people have no money to spend.”

But if government can engage in developmental projects, he said,  this would have a trickle down effects, as it will be able engage more unemployed Nigerians, thereby, improving their livelihood as well as develop the economy.

Earlier, the Managing Partner, BBC Professionals, Mr. James Obogwu, urged office holders, especially, those occupying sensitive positions, not to be selfish, as they are appointed to serve, noting that this is what ICAN stands for.

So, if Nigerian leaders imbibe that culture of service, he said Nigeria would be better than what it is today.

“BBC is an accounting and audit firm. All we do is accounting. What Nigerians need is accountability, but unfortunately, it’s not there. If accountants are elected today, politicians would corrupt us. You either follow them or you will be played out.

“The politicians are not sincere and this is not good for national growth.  Most of them are not there to serve, but to pursue their selfish interest,” he lamented.

BBC Professionals is being run by Mr. James Obogwu as the Chairman/Managing Partner, while Mr. Everestus Itodo, Mr. Ayodele Adetuyi and Mrs. Gloria Egwuenu, are partners.

In addition to the accounting and auditing firm, BBC Professionals has two affiliate companies. It has It a consultancy company, Balogun Badejo Consulting Limited with Mr. Femi Moyegun as the Chief Executive Officer and a chartered secretary company, City Secretaries Limited with Miss Oyeronke Opajobi as its Chief Executive Officer.

Photo caption:

Cutting the tape is the President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Titus Soetan, flanked (on the left) by the Managing Partner, BBC Professionals, Mr. James Obogwu, and Founder, Lady Balogun (on the right) as well as partners and friends of BBC Professionals at the commissioning of BBC Professionals news office complex known as Charter House in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, on Tuesday.