By Providence Obuh

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, penultimate week, urged its new members to continue to live above board.

President, ICAN, Deacon Titus Soetan, gave the charge at the 58th Induction Ceremony, where 472 new members were inducted in Lagos, adding that the institute has a process whereby it  discipline members who are found to involve in things contrary to what the institute stand for.

According to him, “I enjoin you to continue to live above board. It is no longer news that the absence of transparency and accountability has intensified the prevalence of corruption and sharp practices in low and high places in the nation.

“As a result, this has accounted for the slow pace of development of this richly endowed nation. Indeed, financial improprieties by persons in position of trust have been a recipe for under-development, increased suffering of the citizens, unemployment, hunger and anger of the poor and insecurity for all.

“As Chartered Accountants, we must hold firmly to our main strengths, that is, the virtues of integrity and credibility on which our survival depends. This is a compelling mandate we must continue to discharge, because being the conscience of the nation, Accounting Professionals must strive to create oasis of sanity in their spheres of influence such that a virtuous society will emerge.

“Indeed, as Chartered Accountants, we must deliberately join the critical mass to support and sustain the on-going anti-corruption crusade by the government. We must all stand up to be counted in this battle for the renaissance of our social values, and those of you being brought into the fold of this noble profession today, must join with your peers to take up this battle,” he said.