Lagos State Accountant-General emphasizes the need to engage State Accountants in knowledge-sharing sessions

Dr. Abiodun Muritala, the Accountant-General of Lagos State, has emphasised the need to frequently engage Accountants in the employ of the State Government in knowledge-sharing sessions to improve their performance and output on the job.

This was revealed by the Accountant-General during the Third Quarter Technical Meeting with Heads/Directors of Finance and Accounts of Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, which was recently held at the STO Resource Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.

He claimed that Finance and Account Officers are expected to exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence in the workplace in order to collaborate successfully and function as a team.

Dr. Abiodun Muritala, the Accountant-General of Lagos State, has emphasised the need to frequently engage Accountants in the employ of the State Government in knowledge-sharing sessions to improve their performance and output on the job.

This was revealed by the Accountant-General during the Third Quarter Technical Meeting with Heads/Directors of Finance and Accounts of Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, which was recently held at the STO Resource Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.

He claimed that Finance and Account Officers are expected to exhibit a high degree of emotional intelligence in the workplace in order to collaborate successfully and function as a team.

In addition, Muritala highlighted the necessity to be ICT-compliant in the 21st century, since this development helps to the growth and enhancement of processes and goods, as outlined in the current administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

He said that with the proper emotional intelligence and enough understanding of ICT and its applications, the rate of deliveries amongst officers would significantly rise, resulting in enhanced productivity.

In his presentation on ‘Emotional Intelligence’ at the knowledge-sharing session, the Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, stated that Emotional Intelligence with a high level of professionalism imprints credibility and dependability, and transcends age.

He said, “It engenders successful interpersonal relationships and lasting reputation. It embodies a great listener as opposed to a blank wall, encourager as opposed to the doubter, appreciative as opposed to ungrateful and empathetic as opposed to self-centredness”.

Bamgboye, speaking about the impact of emotional intelligence on professionalism and attitude change, stated that it will help Accountants develop emotional maturity, increase their social intelligence, serve as a tool to avoid or manage strained relationships, and ultimately improve interpersonal communication among others.

During the knowledge-sharing session, he instructed the participants to mentor younger coworkers under their supervision in order to lessen the burden. According to him, this demonstrates emotional intelligence.

The Permanent Secretary stated that it is in the best interest of the Directors of Finance and Accounts to acquire the necessary management skills to collaborate successfully with the accounting officers of their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

Mr. Wasiu Jimoh, a Director in the Ministry of Science and Technology, echoed the necessity for all professions, including Accountants, to be ICT-compliant and emphasised the evolution of information technology.

Mr. Jimoh said that the notion of AOD, which means “Authomate or Die,” was created to emphasise the need of being ICT-compliant, adding that persons who are not ICT-compliant are known as Luddites.

He enumerated six technologies influencing the future of every Profession, including Big Data, increased Computing Power, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Intelligence of Things, Autonomous Robots, and Blockchain, and urged Accountants to evaluate how these technologies can be used strategically to accomplish predetermined goals.

Jimoh recognised many advantages of Information Technology for the Accounting profession, including accuracy, speed of information processing, the ability to handle enormous quantities of information, reconciliation reasons, and the convenience and capacity of information storage.