*Commends stockbrokers, says time Nigerians said Nigeria First
By Florence Israel, Abuja
The Federal Government has said that it is committed to providing free training to accountants, lawyers, wealth managers, stockbrokers and other professional advisers to the public on the scheme to support the successful implementation of the recently launched Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).
The free training is aimed at equipping them to give advice to their clients on participating in the scheme.
In a message to the Conference of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers held at the Trasncorps Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, 2017, Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said that professional advisers were critical to the success of the VAIDS due to their role in financial management.
Adeosun’s message at the event was titled, “Transiting from Recession to a Global Economic Power”.
She specifically commended the stockbrokers for their role in the recently launched Federal Government Savings Bonds, which relied on their distribution network.
“The success of this product shows that you continue to have a wide reach and therefore must partner with Government,” the Minister noted.
She also commended the role of the stockbrokers in the recently successful Eurobond and Diaspora Bond issuances, adding that despite the debt issuances, government was focused on changing its financing mix and on raising more revenue.
Mrs Adeosun affirmed that Nigeria was on the road to recovery and emphasised the role of investments in infrastructure to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
Citing the N1.2 trillion already released for capital projects under the 2016 budget, Mrs Adeosun assured that much more could be done if every citizen paid the correct taxes.
“It would be like thinking the unthinkable; it is time that Nigerians said Nigeria First”, she concluded.
