FOWLER, ADEOSUN, ABDULRAZAQ, UNUBUN RECEIVED ICAN AWARDS

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FOWLER, ADEOSUN, ABDULRAZAQ,UNUBUN RECEIVED ICAN AWARDS

Oki Samson

Mr. William Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) (4th Left) Receiving ICAN Merit Award from Mr. Ismail Zakari, ICAN President (3rd Left) 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards.

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Honourable Minister of Finance (L) Receiving ICAN Merit Award from Mr. Ismail Zakari, ICAN President (R) at the 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards.

The the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) on Saturday night honoured the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Babatunde Fowler, with the 2018 Merit Award at Eko hotel in Lagos.

Other high profile personalities also honoured by the Institute were: the Akarigbo of Remo, HRH Oba Babatunde Ajayi; Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Isiaka Abdulrazaq and a Fellow of the Institute, Mrs. Margaret Unubun.

The University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and Fate Foundation received the Institute’s Merit Award in the Corporate Category while a Posthumous award was given to Late Alhaji Zubair Abdullah and Late Mrs. Uchenna Ifesinachi Erobu.

According to Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Tunde Fowler, said that, “Good taxpayers who are doing their duties conscientiously, by paying taxes as and when due, will make Nigeria great again”.

Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq, Chief Financial Officer, NNPC (m) Receiving ICAN Merit Award from Mr. Ismail Zakari, ICAN President (3rd right) 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards.

Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, Torungbuwa II, Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland (3 right) Receiving ICAN Merit Award from Mr. Ismail Zakari, ICAN President (2nd right) 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards.

Mrs. Margaret Irenuma Unubun (m), Executive Secretary, Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) Receiving ICAN Merit Award from Mr. Ismail Zakari, ICAN President (3rd right) 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards.

Mr Fowler said FIRS collected N1.171 trillion between January and March 2018 – N393 billion more than it collected during the same period in 2017, when the agency collected N778.1 billion in the first quarter. The N1.171 trillion collection in the first quarter of 2018 represented 51 per cent increase in collection compared to 2017.

Mr Fowler also said: “The Honourable Minister of Finance, our royal father and the ICAN chairman, members of the Press. I am delighted to be called upon to speak on behalf of the corporate society. For us to receive an award from a group such as ICAN is extremely honourable.

“Lawyers pride themselves as learned professionals. But accountants play am important role in a country like ours. The corporate world plays an important role too. One of the recipients of the awards today, my good friend the owner promoter of Dangote Group is one of the compliant groups in Nigeria, supporting this economy, the hospitals and other corporate organisations, that are serving this organisation, we thank you.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, on the other hand said that the Merit Awards — in the members category to her by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)-, is a rare endorsement of some of the change initiatives under President Mohammadu Buhari.

L-R;  Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Tunde Soleye, and Mr. Fowler’s Wife during the 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards at Eko Hotel, Lagos

Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq, Chief Financial Officer, NNPC (m), Prof. M.T Abdulrazaq (4th right), Alh. Abdulrauph Abdulrazaq (3ed right) and other Family members and friends at the Presentation of ICAN Merit Award to Alh. Isiaka Abdulrazaq during the 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

L-R; Mr. Oresanya Oladimeji, former managing director, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Mr. Ismail Zakari, ICAN President and Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) at the 2018 ICAN Annual Dinner and Awards at Eko Hotel, Lagos.  

She stated too that the awards coming from an association known for its integrity and its professionalism to a tax collector is rare and an endorsement of the work of tax collectors in the country.

“The President of ICAN, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, Zakari The Vice President, The First and 2nd Vice Presidents, past Presidents. Let me also recognise my professional mother and the first female Chartered Accountant in Africa, Mrs. Toyin Olakunrin. Thank you, Ma. I am here today because you were here and because of the work that you did. If you didn’t do what you needed to do, I won’t be here today. On behalf of all female chartered accountants, we say thank you. We are here to make you proud.

“On behalf of my colleagues, all the awardees, me members of ICAN my humble self. The GED of NNPC, (Alh Isiaka AbdulRasak} my Kabiyesi the Akarigbo of Remoland and Mrs Magaret Unubu, I like to say thank you to the institute for deeming us worthy of these awards.

“In Nigeria, we like awards… all kinds of awards. But when you get an award from ICAN, it’s actually a very very valuable award. It’s a very valuable and well-respected honour. So, I like to thank you for deeming us worthy of these awards. I think it’s important and symbolic today that we are recognising members of the profession and non-members from a wide range of public service, private practice.

“I think it is significant that a taxman is being honoured. And when the taxman’s name is mentioned, people clap. That is a sea change in Nigeria that I think it’s here to stay. When the people collecting taxes are popular, the country wants to move forward. I thank you all on behalf of all the recipients.

“Let me thank so many heads of government agencies under the ministries of finance, NNPC, FIRS…that are really pulling together to take this country forward When I am being honoured. They are also being honoured too. We promise you that we will continue to do our best to make you proud.

The finance minister had kind words for the FIRS chairman, ICAN and stakeholders in the federal system.

The ICAN President, Isma’ila Muhammadu Zakari, said Minister Kemi Adeosun was honoured for her exemplary and distinctive contribution to the growth of the Nigerian economy and leadership quality.

“This honour is in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the ideals of our Institute which include: Accountability, Integrity, Honesty, Exemplary Leadership and Nation Building.

“Particularly for your selfless service as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and for your roles in strengthening the Nigerian economy and entrenching accountability through the introduction of 22 Points Fiscal Reform Action Plan and the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme,” the ICAN boss stated.

The Minister has played leading roles in the development of various cost cutting initiatives through the pursuit of carefully thought out policies aimed at promoting transparency in the payment process, drastic reviews of the procurement process, and the sanitisation of the public-sector payroll system which led to the elimination of huge number of ghost workers.

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