Sell Idle Assets – ICAN Boss Tells FG
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has urged the Federal Government to sell off idle assets across the country to shore up government’s revenue and accelerate the nation’s development.
President of ICAN, Alhaji Razak Jaiyeola said the Institute is worried that some of the assets lying idle, especially in Lagos, are in prime locations and have the capacity to generate huge income for the government.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that; “There are lots of assets lying idle around in the country. There is the Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi, Dodan Barracks, Ikoyi Prison, all in prime locations in Lagos.
“The government should sell them and move the barracks and the prison out of the prime areas. To site barracks and prisons in prime areas is not done anywhere.”
Alhaji Jaiyeola, who praised government’s efforts at fighting against corruption in the country, however noted that said the outcome was still far from the expectations of ICAN and many Nigerians.
According to him, decisive actions must be taken to reduce delays in prosecuting offenders, even as he recommended the introduction of special courts to accelerate trials and convictions of corrupt persons.
The ICAN boss also said there is an urgent need to rid the judiciary of corrupt judges; deploy intelligence techniques in fighting corruption; vigorously pursue voluntary declaration of assets; and the whistle blowing policy.
He stated that ICAN is willing to deploy its Forensic Faculty to assist government in training relevant agencies in intelligent techniques to boost the anti-corruption fight.
On the economy, Jaiyeola said Nigeria must curtail its appetite for imported goods, diversify revenue sources and revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company as part efforts at sustainable socio-economic growth and development of the country.
The ICAN President urged the Federal Government to improve security measures across the country while also pursuing with vigor the ‘Ease of Doing Business’, adding that such measures would effectively improve the nation’s business environment.
