REV. CANON BENJAMIN CHUKA OSISIOMA is a Professor of Accountancy and a faculty member of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University. He is also current National President of the Association of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Professor Osisioma spoke with OrientDaily team comprising SIMON NJOKU, Associate Editor; DR. AZUBUIKE NKALA, Member, Editorial Board; IJEOMA ECHEBIRI, Marketing Officer and FRANCIS ABIAGAM, Photojournalist on diverse issues relating to his profession, academics, economy and others. Excerpts:
Sir, could you please introduce yourself?My name is BENJAMIN CHUKA OSISIOMA, a native of Enugu-Nanka, Nanka community in Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State. I was born to Peter and Beatrice Osisioma on October 14, 1950. I retired from the academia and public service last year as a Professor of Accountancy.I usually tell people I was a village boy during my growing up years.I grew up in the village and was familiar with all the mischief and shenanigans associated with it. I had my secondary education at the DMGS, Onitsha and the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus where I obtained my first, second and third degrees. I did my National Youth Service at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Jos in Plateau State before I ventured into teaching at the College of Education, Awka. My career progressed to the Anambra State University of Technology, Enugu. From there, I moved to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. I joined the Association of National Accountancy of Nigeria around 1995 and purely by Gods grace, I rose to the position of the National President.I’m a husband to one wife and a father to two children. In 2017, Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim ordained me a priest and by December, 2020, he made me a Canon in the Anglican Diocese. To sum it up, I’m a professor and also a Reverend Canon.
What is the difference between ANAN, the association you head and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)?
ICAN Started operating as an association before us, around 1959. Members of the accounting profession all over the world came back to Nigeria and started associating and had an association of accountants. We continued till 1965 when the association received charter. They were given a statue, the Institute of Chartered Accountants Act proposed by the Minister in 1965. Incidentally, that was a government-sponsored Act and they held sway as at that time and it was such a bad thing because before one could practise he has to first become a member. ICAN then had a monopoly over the practice of the accountancy profession. We held sway until 1979 when a group of qualified accountants said that this monopoly is not good for the Nigerianbeconomy. Some argued that we do not need more than one association.
The argument of the founding members was that even the United Kingdom, where the association has its base, had more than five professional bodies registered there. So, there was no reason Nigeria should have only one association. In matters of economy, it was greedy to work with monopoly and we fought it through the National Assembly where it was read and discussed. Then Head of State, President Ibrahim Babangida was our major helper because the Nigerian Senate was in support of ICAN and wanted it to maintain the monopoly. Babangida promised us that he would sign the ANAN bill into law before leaving office and his promise was fulfilled.Though there may be other bodies now our law, as a charter, has only two recognized bodies: the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Association of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and the idea was to build human capacity for Nigeria’s economy. Our emphasis was to make Nigeria better. I have also advised professional bodies that there is a difference between a professional body and a trade union. A trade union fights for the interest of its members but a professional body develops a body of knowledge, builds a discipline out of mere knowledge and makes sure that it is institutionalized so that subsequent generations can move on from where they stopped.
When you look at other professions like medicine and law, you ‘ll find that they have one body, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) respectively. In the case of ICAN and ANAN, some people think that having two is an aberration. What is your view on this?
No. It is a refinement and an improvement. I don’t see it as an aberration. If you watch the word ‘crisis’, when translated in Chinese language, means opportunity and danger. So crisis can be a dangerous thing and can also mean an opportunity to go one step further. ANAN and ICAN existing side by side have enriched the profession. We are at peace with ICAN and we don’t want to be firing shots.
Could you throw light on the role of accountants in the economy?
We play vast roles. We plan, control, investigate, inform, communicate and interpret. All these are the core duties of accountants. We look at the resources of the enterprise, the entity, or the nation. We advise on how the constraints can be balanced so that the best is achieved. Just like in economics, the resources are always scarce and the wants are unlimited. We have to plan, even after planning, we try to refine further. We also use the plan as our basis for control. You see, when a government approves a budget, it is an authorization to spend. It is also a limitation to expenditure; that is the control factor of the accountants.In the everyday fraud issue in the country, the accountant can be a veritable tool to put a restraint on it. Any principal who will embezzle the school fund must first gain the cooperation of the Bursar. Now, we are having a multidisciplinary emphasis on the production of accountants and one may find out that we are reaching far more goals and areas in the profession than before.
What are the criteria for membership of ANAN? Can one belong to both bodies?
Before we came on board, ICAN had a simple method and the stages were, if one is qualified up to the Secondary School Certificate, one can start the foundation exams. If one passes the foundation exam, one then goes into the intermediate exam and then professional. But ANAN has a completely different approach. We are expected to go into the university or polytechnic and obtain a B.Sc or HND in Accounting,
and then one can then think of applying to join us. So, our raw materials are graduates from different institutions. We now invite them to College of Accountancy in Jos to study for nine months to gain exposure and interaction with professionals. In establishing the college, we borrowed the idea of the Nigerian Law School, an idea we saw in Scotland. We married the two and produced a very unique amalgam. All these we do is because we don’t want to produce an accountant who doesn’t know the difference between a passbook and a journal.
So, which of these bodies can audit government’s accounts?
There is no kind of accounting practice we are not involved in, even taxation, because we have Chartered Institute of Taxation and luckily, we have a strong working arrangement with them. So, our members also have the liberty to carry out tax practices. All these things are the services we offer to the working public.
Considering the level of fraud in government establishments, would you say accountants in Nigeria are doing well and why?You see, you do not expect a Nigerian accountant to be an angel that dropped from heaven. One can be professionally as good as the environment he came from. If you go to Hell and pick a professional there, he will possess characteristics of hell. If you pick someone from Heaven, he will act like professional beings from Heaven. The professionals in Nigeria reflect a lot in Nigeria and it is not that we don’t preach. If accountants are invited yearly by the virtue of the extent of corruption in Nigeria, it’s an indictment. Don’t forget that accounting profession is a service function. I’m not trying to defend accountants because we all in Nigeria are guilty and part of the entire rot in the society. During my valedictory address at Nnamdi Azikiwe University weeks ago, I started my address with a statement that we have failed. I directed this statement to my generation. The Nigeria we inherited was far better than what we are handing over to our children. Then, Nigeria was epitome of values. We exported bureaucrats to go and teach people in Zambia, Tanzania and others how to run their civil service. We had the best officers anybody could think of and even the United Nations looked up to our security forces to help Africa. We had best captains of industries. What are we handing over to our generation? It is almost like a hall of infamies. It is not like we are not pushing but our fortune is caused by a combination of factors. Since I started writing papers in 1973, we have always sung the same song. We have talked the same talk and I wish I had a switch I could press and everything will change.
Considering the role of accountants in Nigerian budgetary system, how do they factor in the issue of borrowing from both local and international agencies?
Borrowing comes in always. When you have planned your expenditure profile and things you set out to do, and somehow, your resources fall short of what you look to accomplish, you begin to look for resources from elsewhere. Borrowing is not bad per say. One could borrow to set up an industry. But the tragedy of the Nigerian situation is that we go abroad and borrow in dollars, embezzle in dollars and at the end of the day, come back with nothing. The problem is that we collect loans and then create loopholes in the budget and fail to apply the purpose for which the loan was obtained. Planning and providing for loan is not the issue. The issue is having the strength of character to do what you said you will do. Again, nobody asks what the leaders use the money they borrowed to do. There are key performance indicators we can use to find out whether or not a budget is achieving its purpose.
Considering the high level of borrowing by the present Federal Government, what is the future of the coming generation with respect to the repayment of these loans?
Let me tell the truth, I don’t see any future for the coming generation. The loans that we have accumulated have gotten to a point that nobody could pay. Obasanjo brought Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was World Bank Vice President and Obiageli Ezekwesili both of whom are in the top figures in the international monetary equation and they used all they had to wipe off the debts. Now, the debt of the country is piling again. Those days, we found out that Nigeria was not able to pay the interest accrued to the loans not to talk about repaying the principal itself. That is why the Nigerian future is very bleak and that is why government should place an embargo on loans. Let us survive with what we have.
What should Nigeria do to extricate itself from these loans that will make the future generation strangers and slaves in their own country?
It is a sad story. We owe Britain, US, France and China. These are societies that can’t afford to forgive. I restrain myself from saying that for loans from these countries you must pay back to the last kobo.Zambia will soon become the first country in Africa to be recolonized because of their colonial misadventures of the past and because of the financial profligacy of today’s leaders. They are now taking over major establishments in the country. Now, China has a population that is too much for their land space. We can only pray that our government have enough sense to recover enough to put a stop to these.
With the continued borrowing by the Federal Government, what kind of provision do you think should be contained in the loan agreements with these countries that could ensure a level of comfort for Nigeria?
What provision? A borrower does not have a choice. The only provision is to go and take care of your own needs and repay. There is no other provision because when you want to borrow, the borrower gives you conditions and not you giving who lends money to you.
So, what should be our option?
Our option is to stop borrowing entirely. We can survive without them.What happens is that our leaders are borrowing to find money to embezzle before they go. When I made a trip to Dubai, I got angry because thirty years back, Dubai was a desert land. Why can’t the Southeast be the next Dubai? Like the five Emirates that made up Dubai, why can’t the five Eastern states in Nigeria make a Mega city zone? There is need for us to produce what we need.
Which primary school did you attend while growing up?
Laughs! I attended a village primary school. In fact, when we started, we couldn’t go beyond Standard Four because for us to attend Standard Five and Six upper classes, we had to go to St James which was the Church at the centre then. So, we stopped at Standard Four in the village before we were promoted to finish Standard Five and Six at the centre. Then, we used to have district examinations at the end of the year. In first and second term, the school will evaluate us, then third term, the entire district will evaluate us. Those days make me smile when I remember them in life because life was very simple and uncomplicated then.
Tell us about life at DMGS which was the focus those days.
Denis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) helped prepare me for what I’m today. I usually use the word DMGS as an acronym. D stood for Discipline, M for Maturity, G has emphasis on Godliness and S was a sense of Service and Sacrifice brought into our lives at a very tender stage. There, we were trained not to look down on anybody even if you are privileged. Every Sunday, we wore our whites and matched to the Cathedral under force. Nobody would ask us if we liked it or not. So DMGS was a wonderful experience and they inculcated so many values in us.
You worked so well at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, why were you not appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the institution?
I have learnt in life that when I pursue something and it doesn’t work out, it is for the best. All things work together for good for those who love God and we are called according to his purpose. I believe all things work together for our good. Who knows what could have happened if I had become the Vice Chancellor.Some have lost their faith; some lost their career and even their name. So, I believe that was the way God wanted it.Again, some people said they were not comfortable with my Christian convictions and that I would spoil things for them. Trust me, I promised them I was going to do that. As for me, that was not a do or die affair. What I told myself was that what I can never be as a Christian; I would never want such thing. If I can be in this position and not live my life the way I have always lived, then, it is better I don’t go there. So, I thought I met all the criteria but incidentally, all the names that vied for the position, none of the contestants submitted a CV that bettered my own and I thank God for that. I’m one of those who believes that when you do what you have to do day by day, God takes the responsibility to place you where you ought to be or where He wants you to be. I don’t have any regrets whatsoever.
You have produced so many accountants in your career. How many journal articles and books did you write from the beginning of your UNIZIK career to your retirement? How can I know the number? It should be close to 300 or so and I cannot remember the dates and years. There are also other none professional writings. When l got to the College of Accountancy, l became their Director General in1997 and I was there for four years. It gave me an opportunity to write on management, public administration, ethics and values outside the confinement of accounting. So, I used to love writing.
How do you conceptualize a thriving and integrated South East regional economy?I call it catalyzing socioeconomic development in the Southeast. My model is that we can have a string of airports, rail lines and network of roads. We can have a spread of industries with specialization in different areas. We have a wealth of natural resources and can have an agricultural belt that stretches from Uzo Uwani side that can feed the whole of South East region. We have everything we need to develop South East. I remember when countries as far as Zambia and the rest were coming to Onitsha to buy goods. It is no more like that today. We need governors who have a vision and the people who would support that vision.
Looking at the structure of the Nigerian Military, many think the military should be decentralized such that regional governments will have and control their army. What is your take on this?
Let me begin by saying that the first military coup failed because of our federal structure. It was carried out in the North, West but couldn’t succeed in the East. If it was a unitary system where everybody has one common centre, it would have been very successful.
Why people are calling for confederate is because it was the outcome at the Aburi accord between Odumegwu Ojukwu and Yakubu Gowon. That is why the experience we have all had in Nigeria in the past 50 years tells us that the best thing for us as a nation is that we need to pull apart lightly or we break up completely. The truth of the matter is, how on earth will you get an Hausa man to trust an Igbo man or an Igbo man to trust a Yoruba man? A lot of things have happened in our history that would have forced us to pull apart. I’m not saying Nigeria should disintegrate, but we can call it restructuring and that is the reality of the situation. The military incursion failed but the military regime under Aguiyi Ironsi changed the structure and then made the system Unitary. So, if we can return to the federal structure, it will be better so that regions will develop at their own rate. So, when people say they want to return to the federal structure, they have reasons for saying that. People are now saying that beyond this true federal structure, let us consider Confederate set-up, so that we can be more like husband and wife and save ourselves from tensions and bickering.
As a learned priest, how would you like to be remembered?I have always desired to be the best that I can be. In everything I’m doing, I ask God to help me. Before I enter classroom to teach, I ask God to help me to be at my best and at His best. This is because my best may not be good enough but His best will definitely be good enough. I desired to pass everything I have learnt in life to the younger generation. I gave my life to Christ on March 11, 1973 and over these years God has kept me on His feet. God taught me lots of things. I want to pass these things to the next generation. I want to be remembered as a man of limited strength and energy but who attained the best he could attain. There is nothing that I have and achieved that is not grace.
Finally, what is the current numerical strength of ANAN, what are the association’s challenges and how are you coping with those challenges?
We have about 45,000 members. We have challenges of adjusting to the realities of the present time. We need to put this in a properperspective and play a leading role in the governance of our nation.
There is also the challenge of maintaining fairness, equity and sound judgment.
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