The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein has called on Treasury Managers to desist from corrupt, fraudulent, and financial mismanagement in the polity.
Speaking at the training programme organised by the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (CITM) in Abuja on Thursday, she emphasized the need to safeguard public funds and protect the interests of the government and the public.
Represented by Alhaji Muhammed Aliyu, Director, Special Duty, OAGF, she urged participants to uphold the highest ethical standards in their work and actions as treasury professionals.
She said ethical conduct in treasury management entailed an extremely large number of principles, which include transparency, honesty, accountability, and fairness.
She said that as custodians of public funds, we bear a tremendous responsibility to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity in our profession.
According to her, “We must remain watchful against the threats of corruption, fraud, and financial mismanagement by implementing a strong internal control system and promoting a culture of compliance.
“Training and professional development are essential in equipping the practitioners with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct the activities of Treasury Management ethically.”
“Let us seize this opportunity to expand our understanding of ethical principles and best practices, so as to strengthen our ability to serve the public well.
“As professionals, we must resist the temptation of personal interest or undue influence in our decision-making processes.
“We must always prioritize the public interest above all other interests, even in the face of unpleasant situations or pressure from the public,” she said.
“We must adhere to these principles seriously, not only to maintain public trust but also to imbibe a culture of integrity and transparency within our organizations.”
Also speaking, the Registrar, CITM, Mr Olumide Adedoyin said that to curtail financial crime, there must be detergent, adding that enlightenment is also key.
“Once you create awareness, you must empower professional associations, particularly associations like CITM, ANAN, and ICAN, because where we are going is an evolving journey.
“And along the line, there are gaps that need to be filled, and that is why treasury management becomes important; if you don’t involve treasury management in your financial flow, you are going to lose it.”
He said that treasury management would help to safeguards in the financial system, adding that this would help to fortify financial inflow.
