By Chidi Maduka
The venue was filled to the brim with egg heads from the finance industry, each came to showcase his/her knowledge of financial expertise and knowledge, in an economy grappling for breath, the theme was “Unlocking the potentials of non-oil sector as a sustainable source of Government Revenue” and the occasion was, the annual meeting of National Council on finance and economic Development (NACOFED) held in Kaduna.
It was a 3 day event that started with a courtesy visit to the host Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the team was led by the Hon Minster of finance along with other members of the Local Organizing Committee. The event was declared open by Governor El-Rufai, while the Minister of finance Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed opened her address by calling on State Governments to reduce unnecessary overhead costs and enthrone fiscal discipline in order to increase Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, for proper resources management with availability of scarce resources.
As it is the norm, every State featured the drivers of their economy or the best hands in the management of their individual States Revenue. One after the other, all the resource persons that participated in the event which includes the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmad Idris, Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance Suleiman Audu Kwari, Mr. Wale Akinterina, Commissioner of finance Ondo State, Prof.. I. Garba, Vice Chancellor Ahmad Bello University Zaria, Ali Mahmood Sali Yunusa, Chairman of the Commissioners Of Finance Forum and Commissioner Of Finance, Adamawa State, Umar Waziri, Accountant General Kaduna State etc. while members of the Panel includes Dr. Armstrong, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance and Dr. Lawal Silas of Federal Ministry of Finance Abuja all delivered their papers.
In line with the theme of the conference, our own Commissioner for Finance Mr. Obinna Oriaku in a show of exceptional brilliance, display of knowledge and expertise in the finance industry anchored the presentation of the paper “Application of E -governance in promoting revenue mobilization at sub-national levels” which was handled by Dr. Kabir Kabo Usman and by the time Mr. Oriaku was through, it was a loud ovation from every corner and a standing ovation for a man who is in no doubt acquainted with the challenges of the modern day economic ultimatum and solutions there in.
It was endorsement galore after the conference for our own finance commissioner and little wonder he is defiant and focused about driving the State’s economy to a safe destination, despite the challenging political terrain.
Obinna Oriaku had all along displayed the right attitude towards ensuring a healthy, improved and advanced approach towards achieving economic sustainability and his introduction of e-payment had to a very large extent checked salary fraud and saved enormous funds for the government, his show of passion and patriotism is exceptional and he deserves our encouragement and support.
Congratulations the exchequer of Abia economy and thank you for making us proud.
Chidi Maduka is an economist and a social commentator.
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