ICAN Applauds NDIC on Integrity, Transparency and Professionalism in Promoting Financial System Stability

The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chief Davidson Chizuoke S. Alaribe, has commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for its continuous compliance to the highest standards of integrity and transparency which is critical to the success of its operations in safeguarding depositors’ funds and ensuring the stability of the financial system. This formed part of the ICAN President’s remarks during a courtesy visit of the ICAN Governing Council to the NDIC Management in Abuja.

Chief Alaribe said, the NDIC has been recognised as a formidable organisation due to its commitment to compliance with standards of corporate governance, zero-tolerance for corruption and effective internal controls. He added that the Corporation’s commitment has been recognized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which awarded NDIC the top position in its 2023 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS).

While underscoring the relationship between his Institute and NDIC, Chief Alaribe disclosed thatICAN has also established the ICAN Accountability Index to promote integrity in key sectors of the economy, focusing on budget, credibility, asset and debt management.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDIC, Mr. Bello Hassan congratulated Chief Alaribe on his appointment asthe 60th President of ICAN. Hassan, himself a Fellow of the Institute, described ICAN as a strategic stakeholder of the Corporation. He therefore reiterated the need for the Institute to ensure its members uphold the highest values of integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties as auditors, as NDIC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continue to rely on theirwork as external auditors in their risk-based supervision of banks.

Reflecting on his earlier call for stronger collaboration with ICAN, the NDIC Boss stressed the need for the introduction of Deposit Insurancemodule in the curriculum of ICAN examinations. He emphasised that this initiative is essential to enhance understanding of the Deposit Insurance Scheme among ICAN members, who represent a significant portion of potential bankers and bank examiners.

Hassan restated the Management’s commitment towards strengthening the partnership betweenICAN and the Corporation in contributing to the stability of the banking sector and the nation’sfinancial system as a whole.