Being Text of a Speech by His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Executive Governor, Nasarawa State, on the Occasion of the Conference of FRCN Heads of Finance and Audit Departments, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Wednesday, 8th June, 2011

Protocol:

It is my pleasure to heartily welcome you all to Lafia, the Capital of Nasarawa State, on this occasion of a 3-day Conference of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Heads of Finance and Audit Departments.

I am glad to note the impressive turn-out of eminent professionals in the field of financial management who have come from all Stations of the FRCN across the Country to attend this conference. I also note the specialized line up of activities for the conference, which includes presentation of papers and discussions on trends in the profession. I believe that participants at this programme will benefit immensely from the experience of the resource persons who have been carefully selected to present enriching papers.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this conference is very apt and timely, considering the fact that our public institutions are facing the challenge of reduced funding occasioned by the global economic meltdown. As financial managers, I am all too sure that you are aware that it can no longer be business as usual in the management of public resources.

Accordingly, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the culture of transparency and accountability, through the mechanism of due process, is instituted. In this respect, I urge to ensure that conference participants discuss methods of applying accounting standards and controls in all transactions in the FRCN.

Perhaps I need to use this opportunity to point out that the CPC Administration in Nasarawa State is committed to ensuring that a regime of transparency and accountability is instituted in the State. Our covenant with our people requires us to use all the resources of the State to benefit them. This Administration will stop at nothing in ensuring that the electorate begins to have a feel of our change agenda through the programmes, policies and projects that we will execute in the next few years.

In this connection, this Administration will ensure strict compliance with all financial rules and regulations in the public service, at all times.

At this juncture, I must use this auspicious occasion to commend Nigerian Journalists for winning the struggle for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill. The Bill will most certainly ensure that public officers are transparent and accountable to the people. These are the principles on which our Party, the CPC, is built.

In congratulating our journalists however, I must call for a new culture of responsible journalism from the practitioners of the profession. Journalism is about enlightenment and education. A journalism that is based on inaccuracies is not in the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act. I have no doubt that our journalists would protect their new found freedom by adhering to the highest standards of journalist ethics.

At this juncture, let me commend the organizers of this programme for a job well done. I urge you to keep it up.

Ladies and gentlemen, I will like to end this address by expressing the gratitude and appreciation of the Government and people of Nasarawa State to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for giving us the opportunity to host this Conference. I also commend the organizers of this programme for a job well done. I urge you to keep it up.

I hope that the participants at this conference will find time during your stay in the State to enjoy the warm hospitality of our people, as well as visit various tourist sites.

On this note, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to declare the FRCN Heads of Finance and Audit Departments Conference open.

Thank you and God bless.