The Accountant General of Rivers State, Mr Ngozi Y. Abu, has stressed the need for effective and efficient public finance management as a panacea to achieve set objectives in public service.

In a keynote address presented at a workshop on Effective Accounting in the Current Financial Challenges in Nigeria, Mr Abu said that operating efficient accounting system and managing financial resources required relevant competence.

According to him, public sector accountants play critical roles in re-engineering the financial and accounting system of the society.

He emphasised that for Nigeria to play her roles in the comity of nations, the country’s financial process must meet international standards, adding that public sector establishments were expected to minimise bureaucracy, shed overheads, manage financial resources more competently and be more focused.

This , the state accountant general said, was the reason why the  governor sponsored top government officials for a week long course on International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in United Kingdom last year.

He further disclosed that a similar training programme was being arranged for 50 professional accountants in the state civil service to strengthen public finance management.

He commended Governor Ameachi for his foresight, steadfastness and encouragement for accountants, noting that the governor’s focus and vision were to achieve transparency and accountability in public finance, management and governance.

Mr Abu therefore charged the authorities of University of Port Harcourt to take advantage of the new trend and development in the accounting sector by arranging training programmes on related courses so as to meet global standards.

Goodluck Ukwe