AGF tasks office holders on prudent use of funds

CITING dwindling revenue from oil, the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris yesterday tasked public office holders over efficient and judicious management of government funds.

The AGF gave the charge yesterday while hosting members of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in his office.

He stressed that at challenging moments in the nation’s history when government’s resources have grown so lean due to certain circumstances, it was only imperative for public office holders to shun corruption and ensure that funds allocated to projects were prudently managed.

Commending his guests and colleagues for their visit, Alhaji Ahmed also charged ANAN and other accounting professional bodies in the country to champion the anti-graft crusade by ensuring they adhere to ethics and standards in the discharge of their duties.

Reacting to the call for synergy between the office of AGF and the professional body, Ahmed assured that his office would be neutral in dealing with professional bodies. According to him, all would be given opportunity to collaborate in ensuring that those in places of authority properly manage the nation’s lean revenue.

Earlier, the delegation led by its President, Chief Anthony Chukwuemeka Nzom, had pledged its support and willingness to collaborate with the AGF, who according to members was the first ANAN member to be appointed AGF.

Noting that the institution has graduated from the conventional duties to include fraud management and forensic accounting, the President urged the AGF to avail professional staff the opportunity to build their capacity in ANAN affiliated institutions.

Nzom, who took time to chronicle other achievements of ANAN and declared its assets also pledged to raise the institution to international standard.