FULafia collaborates with GIFMIS to enshrine financial excellence, says Abdul Rahman
FULafia collaborates with GIFMIS to enshrine financial excellence, says Abdul Rahman
|By Amarachi Okam & Ene Godwin
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lafia (FULafia), Professor Abdul Rahman, has called on staff of the Bursary Department to imbibe the spirit of accountability, transparency, integrity and excellence in the management of financial resources in the University.
Abdul Rahman spoke during the two-day training of the bursary staff which, recently, took place at the University.
The training was organised by FULafia, in collaboration with the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
Abdul Rahman, who declared the training event open, was represented by Professor Samaila Usman Dakyess.
Abdul Rahman said that the goal of the training was “to improve quality service delivery in the management of financial resources.”
The vice-chancellor said: “In these days of ever increasing focus on compliance and due diligence, a good accounting system is needed more than ever before.”
He pointed out that having financial statements prepared and accompanied by an auditors report is an important factor for a growing university to be able to present a better and more prestigious image of the university.
Abdul Rahman said that a good accounting system with up-to-date records and properly organised supporting documentation will help the management team of the University perform its work, examine the records provided and make a timely decision on financial matters.
In his speech, the resource person for the training, Mr Emmanuel Essien, who applauded Abdul Rahman for his commitment to financial discipline, said that the training could not have come at a better time than now when the University had to make right financial decisions to avoid waste of scarce resources.
GIFMIS, it would be recalled, was introduced in 2004 in line with the Federal Government’s mission to improve public expenditure management processes, enhance greater accountability and transparency across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s).
Mr Essien lectured the participants on how GIFMIS can be applied in various units under the financial management departments for better financial successes.
The second resource person, Malam Salim Aliyu, said that better quality accounting system “will also result in a better quality university management.
Aliyu said: “A university’s financial records are a reflection of its health. If you want to know how your university is doing, the financial records give you information about expenses, gross margin, debt, and more. A good accounting system makes it easier to look back in the past, as well, and make comparisons. You can see if things are better or worse.”
Speaking, Mrs Helen Bello, the Head of Staff Productivity and Promotion Unit, appreciated the participants, urging them to use the knowledge they have acquired during the training in their units, adding: “From now, it is expected that transparency and excellent financial practice will be seen in how you perform your work.”
Those who participated in the training exercise included the Bursar, Mr Wilson Daniel, and the Deputy Bursar, Mr Ovey Aboki.
