Reforms Enhancing Transparency, Accountability, Indispensable to Anti-Corruption Strategy – Lumumba at ICAN 49th Annual Accountants’ Conference
Kenya anti-corruption activist, Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba has declared that reforms tailored towards enhancing transparency and accountability in state and economic institutions are indispensable aspects of sound anti-corruption strategy.
Lumumba made the declaration while delivering the lead paper at the Institute’s 49th Annual Accountants’ Conference in Abuja. Speaking on the topic “Strengthening Institutional Framework to Support Anti-corruption Drive”, he said anti-corruption policies should cut across different sectors of the country’s governance system.
The erudite professor of law stated that governments should not only strengthen the legal basis of the Institutions to prevent corruption, but also broaden criminal codes to be able to prosecute different types of corrupt practices. He charged accountants to be up and doing in supporting government in tackling corruption by being honest to expose all financial crimes they come across in the course of their duties.
His words: “Economic and financial crimes are corruption. Therefore, Institutions alone are not enough to fight corruption. Individuals must be involved and the fighting must not be selective. Corruption within government institutions must be fought headlong. It is the primary responsibility of everyone to abhor corruption and fight it”. The 49th Annual Accountants of Conference is directing the searchlight on how to build strong institutions to support anti-corruption crusade in the country, among other focus areas.
The week-long Conference is poised to seek solutions to the myriad of problems facing the Nigerian economic environment including security, infrastructure, disruptive innovation, public sector accountability, sustainable development and how to resolve them through strong institutions. In his message to participants ICAN President Mazi Nnamdi Okwuadigbo, FCA said the conference would provide a platform for Chartered Accountants within and outside the shores of Nigeria to rethink not only developments in their profession, but also their roles and responsibilities in the development process in an economy.
He described the theme of the conference Building Nigeria for Sustainable Growth and Development as well-timed and pivotal to the country’s national aspiration of joining the league of developed economies. Plenary papers will consider two topics namely “Path to Overcoming Security and Infrastructural Challenges in Nigeria” and “Disruptive Innovations: Challenges and Opportunities in the Accounting Profession”. These add to the full array of thought- provoking presentations that are sure to point the way forward for business and management in the country.