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ICSAN wants stakeholders to adopt sustainable eco-friendly practices

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) has urged governments and Nigerians to focus on green and sustainable eco-friendly measures to preserve the clime.

Mrs Abiola Laseinde, Chairperson, Corporate Members and Training Committee, ICSAN, gave the advice at a press conference on Monday in Lagos.

She said a sustainable eco-friendly clime is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of achieving zero emission by 2060 at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change conference held  in Glasgow, Scotland.

Laseinde said the institute, in an effort to  engage stakeholders in all sectors of the economy on  adopting green and sustainable eco-friendly measures, would be holding a company secretaries and registrar’s forum in Lagos.

She said the forum with theme “Sustainability and the Future of Green Economy: A Governance Perspective” is slated for Feb. 10.

She said it would enable institutional investors, board members and capital market players have a discourse on critical environmental issues that could be implemented all through the year.

Laseinde urged multinational companies and agencies of government to adopt a common strategy to minimise the effect of climate change in the country via green sustainability measures.

“Green economy means a people centric economy with focus on sustainability which is futuristic.

“Now is the time to ensure that investors, companies and government diversification agenda are green and eco-friendly to minimize the effect of climate change.

“Key players of the economy should henceforth think about sustainability before investment to help preserve the global economy.

“We are also looking at measures to adopt to ensure that traders and other players in the informal sector imbibe the rightful attitude in disposal of items such as nylons in order not to endanger the ecosystem,” Laseinde said.

In her remarks, Mrs Linda Onafeli, Chairperson, Planning and Advocacy Committee, ICSAN, urged governments to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the green economy initiative.

Some key personalities expected at the conference include: Mr Seyi Owoturo, President, Institute of Capital Market Registrars, Mrs Constance Kol-Lawal, Environmental and Social Risk Manager, Africa Finance Corporation and Mrs Rukaiya El-Rufai, Partner PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

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ICSAN wants states build capacities, reduce reliance on tax  

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The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) has advised state governments to build up their human and natural resources toward engender self-reliance and more economical viability.

Mr Taiwo Owokalade, ICSAN’s 28th President, gave the advice at a news briefing on Thursday in Lagos.

He said this became pertinent following the current tax collection dispute between the Rivers state government and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The Federal high court in Rivers had last month delivered a judgment restraining the FIRS from collecting Value Added Tax (VAT) and personal income tax in the state.

Meanwhile, the FIRS has appealed the ruling and urged tax payers in the state to continue to remit their VAT to the agency’s coffers pending the outcome of the matter at the supreme court.

Owokalade, stressing the need to properly address tax collection, said that the current realities must ensure that states were not shortchanged in the process.

The ICSAN President also, charged the 36 states of the federation to redefine, reconfigure and employ measures that would lead to the development of their own human and natural resources for the prosperity of their citizens.

“States must look inwards and generate economically viable activities with its human and natural resources that would make the lives of residents more meaningful and not just be reliant on VAT and all that.

“Once states start to develop their capacities, the issue of rural to urban migration would also be addressed.

“Government must not shy away from adopting new models that would address our current realities,” he said.

Owokalade, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, on the recently signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), noting that the move would open up the oil and gas sector, allow transparency and world global best practices.

He added that the Act which factored in rewards of host communities was a supportive step and showed the willpower and consideration of government.

Owokalade, however, charged host communities to create a structure that allows transparency of both collection and usage of funds to improve the outlook and lives of the community.

“The PIA which is a revolution needs to be commended for government’s willpower to be able to pull through it.

”It is topical and supportive to recognize that where a resource is found, the community is factored into the sharing of the proceeds and this would become a normal stand, not just for oil but for other natural resources.

 “It, however, calls for proper governance structure, transparency and proper assessment to calculate and ensure that the funds are used to impact the communities,” he said.

Mrs Funmi Ekundayo, Vice-President of the Institute, intimated newsmen about the plans to address the opportunities and challenges of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at its 45th annual conference.

“The conference which would take place on the September 16-17, 2021 would have Chief Niyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment as the chairman while Prof. Akin Oyebode, a guru of international law would give the keynote address.

“It purposes to address Nigeria’s ongoing infrastructural development, emerging roles and opportunities for our members and better intra-African collaboration on infrastructural development,” she said.

Mrs Taiwo Olusesi, Registrar, ICSAN pledged the Institute’s commitment to training and upscaling the capacities of its members to enable them cope in a post Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic world.