The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria has threatened to discipline members who indulge in unprofessional conduct.
The President of ICAN, Dr Innocent Okwuosa, in a statement on Sunday, gave the warning in Kogi State during the inauguration of the state Governor, Ahmed Dodo.
According to Okwuosa, the institute’s disciplinary process does not fear any office occupied by its members in the government.
The PUNCH reported that Ododo won the November 11, 2023, Kogi State governorship election under the All Progressives Congress with 446,237 votes, defeating Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party, who got 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party polled 46,362 votes.
Speaking during the swearing-in, the ICAN president charged all ICAN members in different positions to show the difference between chartered accountants in government and others.
“For we cannot be at the forefront of advocacy for accountability and transparency in the management of public funds that enthrone good governance and then our members in government are doing otherwise. I want to use this opportunity to remind all of us that the institute’s disciplinary process does not fear any office occupied by our members in government.
“Any member of government who behaves in an unprofessional manner will be referred to the disciplinary process. The endpoint of such a process may result in his/her name being struck off the registrar of members or a fine imposed on him or both,” he said.
Okwuosa noted that the election of Ododo as Kogi State governor was a call to duty.
He stated, “It speaks to the trust and confidence that the people of Kogi have placed in you to lead them.”
“We do not doubt that the experiences you have gained from these roles have prepared you to do well as a governor of the state. ICAN, as the foremost professional accountancy body in Africa, has been at the forefront of advocating for accountability and transparency in the management of public finance.”
