Right value system key to fight corruption —ICAN president

The President of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Titus Alao Soetan, has declared that  right value system would have positive impact  on the fight against corruption saying the debase of values in the societies  had  further aggravate the rate of corruption in Nigeria.

Speaking with the Nigerian  Tribune shortly after a courtesy visit to Grand Cereal and Oil mill in Jos, the ICAN president who called for reorientation of Nigerians, said the value system in Nigeria had been sacrificed on the alter of greed, indiscipline and the crave for materials acquisition.

Said he: “ Though the government is trying its best to fight corruption and reduce it to the barest minimum but until our value system is restored, government might not achieve much in this regard, we need restoration of our value system.

“As long as we continue to glorify stealing, we are going nowhere. The fight against corruption should be the responsibility of everybody. Anywhere we are working, we should see it as an opportunity to render service not to swell our pockets. The get rich syndrome by all means breeds corruption and the society also needs  to change their stereotype about craze for wealth”

He said ICAN laid more emphasis on discipline and abhored any form of corruption among its members, adding that quite a number of members of the body had been sanctioned and their certificate withdrawn for one form of  misconduct  or the other.

“Whenever any of our member erred, we make them public example. What we need is somebody to complain and write us, after which a thorough investigation will be carried out and a panel set up to look into the matter and if the panel cannot resolve the matter, it will be  sent to a tribunal,” he said.

Soetan said further that members of ICAN were always aware of the punitive measures, hence they were always conscious of the fact that their certificates might be withdrawn.

Speaking earlier during the courtesy call, the acting Managing Director of Grand Cereals and Oil, Mr. Sanjeev Jain, commended ICAN for promoting ideal of accounting practices in Nigeria and its steadfastness towards ensuring that its members kept to the norms and practice of the profession.

Mr. Jain said Grand Cereals and Oil has pioneered production of quite a number of products that are generating employment for the youths.