ANAN, ICAN To Collaborate On Economy

The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the two main accountancy regulating bodies in the country, met in Lagos recently to explore further areas of collaboration in the interest of the economy and the profession.

A statement made available to The Tide source said both the ANAN President, Hajia Maryam Ibrahim, and her ICAN counterpart, Mr. Adedoyin Owolabi, agreed that collaboration between the two bodies held much prospect for the financial sector and the economy.

Receiving the ICAN boss, Ibrahim said both bodies had a long struggle to get to where they were today, adding that they had started to appreciate each other.

She stressed that she was still looking forward to further collaboration with ICAN in some areas in the interest of the economy.

According to her, there is the need for the two bodies to begin to think of a joint advisory role to government and the need for a committee of the two bodies.

Ibrahim added that it was not proper for issues to come up and both associations would give different advisory versions to the government.

She said that ICAN and ANAN members should be occupying the post of minister of finance, adding that without collaboration, the associations would not get there.

“In my association, we are taking it very seriously because it is the only way we can show we are a serious association,’’ Ibrahim said.

On whistle blowing, Ibrahim said that ANAN already had internal structures in place but was waiting for the National Assembly to put the Act in place.

In his response, the ICAN President said he was particularly happy that the relationship between the two bodies had metamorphosed into “what it is today.”  He agreed on the need for further collaboration.