Ekiti urges ANAN to establish accounting lab in varsity

Ekiti State government has urged the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) to establish an accounting laboratory in the state’s university.

The state government, which made the appeal, said the lab would enable accounting students, accountants and other allied professionals to take advantage of its services.

The Governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose, conveyed the government’s desire for the accounting laboratory, while declaring open the first session of the association’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD), programme at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.

Fayose, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, also called for the establishment of an outreach centre of ANAN’s College of Accountancy Jos, in Ekiti State.

The governor explained that the appointment of ANAN members as Auditor-General of the state; Auditor-General for the Local Government; and Permanent Secretary/Accountant-General of the state was a confirmation of his administration‘s confidence in the ability of the products of the association.

According to him, the issue of newly-qualified accountants and their entry point of Salary Grade Level10 would be looked into with a view to implementing same within the context of the scheme of service.

The governor pointed out that within the available resources, the state government would continue to sponsor staff to refresher and training programmes.

Bu the President of ANAN, Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode, urged the Federal Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take steps to stem naira’s decline by introducing measures that would bring about stability in the currency.

The accountant noted that the MCPD programme is a continuous retraining programme for members of the association aimed at enhancing their service delivery to their employers and also a key requirement of IFAC.

“It is rotated among the six geo-political zones of the country every year, thereby, affording members the opportunity to appreciate other parts of the country,” he said.

Besides, Labode pointed out that the programme would afford members the opportunity to benchmark themselves with their professional colleagues; revalidate membership of the association; and to obtain credit hours allotted to attending MCPD programme.

“I urge you all to update yourselves on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

“The Association has put in place training programmes for members to learn the rudiments of new reporting standards and members should take advantage of the seminars and Online IPSAS Certification,” he said.

He added that the Governing Council of the association had given approval for the establishment of outreach campuses of the Nigerian College of Accountancy in the six geo-political zones of the country.

Already, the North Central Zone of NCA outreach campus has been located at Niger State University of Education Minna, Niger State.

“The campus will cater for matured students in Niger State, Kwara State and Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. More campuses will be opened in due course,’’ the ANAN president said.