Institute calls for investment in leadership, good governance

The Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa (IGLSA) on Thursday called for high investment in leadership and governance to completely eliminate corruption from the country.

The Director-General, IGLSA, Dr Lanre Adebayo, made this call in Abuja at the public presentation of a book authored by a Rear Admiral of the Nigerian Navy, Dr Kasimu Bushi.

The book: `’Fundamentals of Nigerian Finance and Accounting”, which has 14 chapters and 266 pages aims at addressing the gaps in public finance and accounting.

Adebayo said the publication addresses a key component of the country’s governance system as a major drive towards promoting good governance.

”It is contended that of all the major challenges facing our continent, capacity gaps in governance and leadership appear to be at the top.

”In our view, this is not due to lack of potential, rather lack of investments in creating a critical mass of expertise in those areas.

”It is, therefore, imperative that both the public and private sectors in the country should invest in areas of national emergency if we must close the gaps between the rich and poor countries,” he said.

Adebayo congratulated the author for his contribution to good governance and national development, while urging Nigerian leaders to take advantage of the various membership categories in the institute.

The Emir of Lafia, retired Hon. Justice Sidi Muhammed, advised that concerted efforts should be put in place to wage war against corrupt practices in the country.

“The most difficult war to fight is the war against corruption. We have seen the efforts of the government to end this but more needs to be done.

“I commend the author for his contribution to the general management of finance, especially as it relates to the public sector and your contributions are timely and apt,” the emir said.

He, therefore, said that the book if carefully read and practised would go a long way in reducing the level of financial corruption in the country.

Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee of the Navy, Sen. George Sekibo, commended the author for giving back to the public out of his wealth of knowledge through the book.

Sekibo charged the author to continue writing books, so that Nigerians could learn and benefit from his knowledge, adding that the country would be better for it.

Also, the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Bayero, said the book would address critical issues of development, while also exposing best practices in learning for finance managers, lecturers and students of Financial Accounting.

Also, the Book Reviewer, Prof. Ibrahim Saleh, Deputy Dean, Management Services, Federal University of Kushere, Gombe State, said that monetary issues must be taken serious for the image of the country to be reshaped.

“Each of the book’s 14 chapters took in-depth looks at the financial problems of the country, and proffered solutions to ensure corrupt practices are minimised,” he said.

On his part, the author, Dr Kasimu Bushi, said he was motivated to write the book when he realised that most work experienced in different spheres are not documented.

Bushi said that accounting graduates are not exposed to practical issues in public sector accounting, adding that those newly employed in the public sector are also not well-equipped with knowledge of public sector accounting.

He said that public sector accountants are barely exposed to the regulatory aspect of its accounting, which often served as a guide to accounting functions.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria