ICAN urges accountants to uphold integrity amid economic reforms

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has urged accountants to resist pressure to compromise public interest, warning that institutional credibility amid economic reforms depends on their integrity, independence and professional judgement.

The President and Chairman of the Council, Queensley Seghosime, gave the warning in a message to members on Tuesday to mark the 2026 International Accounting Day, themed “Beyond Numbers: The Conscience Behind the Nation’s Confidence.”

She said investors, taxpayers and development partners rely on accurate financial information when committing capital, paying taxes or releasing funds. Confidence in such transactions, she added, rests on accountants’ ability to ensure that figures are true and fair.

Seghosime urged members to speak truth to power and maintain ethical standards across the public and private sectors, saying their responsibility extended beyond preparing financial statements to protecting transparency and public accountability.

Speaking also, the Institute’s Vice President, Etofolam Osuji, urged accountants to scrutinise public sector decisions and the management of national resources, saying they had a duty to ensure public officials and institutions were answerable to Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the President revealed that the Institute would release its accountability index before the end of 2026, after completing verification to protect the credibility and accuracy of the assessment.

She said the Institute was investing in members’ capacity to adapt to automation, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), but stressed that technology could not replace professional judgement or ethical responsibility.

She disclosed that the Institute planned to establish a business school in February 2027 to strengthen members’ AI skills. It is also developing computer-based examinations and expects to confirm the software before the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Seghosime said ICAN’s more than 72,000 members included professionals in key government positions, including the Minister of Finance and the chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service.