By Abasi Ita
Calabar
A University and financial expert, Prof. Amenawo Offiong, has implored Nigerians to imbibe strict financial discipline as a viable toll in navigating through the current excruciating economic situation ravaging the country.
According to the University don, “such option is achieviable by learning to prioritise needs over wants in order to survive the present economy challenges”.
The Professor of Financial Management in the Department of Banking and Finance, University of Calabar (UNICAL) stated that “the present economy reality demands cutting down on frivolous and impulsive expenditures in order to remain afloat”.
Prof. Offiong gave the advise at a one day masterclass training workshop on “Media, Protocol, Public Speaking and Personal Financial Management” powered by the Cross River Internal Revenue Service in Calabar.
She tasked Nigerians to inculcate a prudent financial management as a habit to guarantee financial stability giventhe prevailing economic challenges.
“In the face of the present economy reality and in a developing country like ours, managing one’s finances could be quite challenging, but then, there is need for us to budget and track our income.
“We must not engage in unnecessary expenditure, we should have a clear cut financial goal and avoid taking our needs over our wants,” she stated.
She advised Nigerians to avoid life style inflation, especially against the recent increase in the minimum wage.
According to her, “learn how to survive on your previous income before the new one. Only effective financial management that can save us from debt.”
Similarly, Dr Judex Okoro of the Department of Mass Communication has enjoined staff of the revenue service to be clear and concise in their messages to the people on issue of taxation and levies.
Delivering a paper on the topic: “Art of Public speaking and Media Management, Okoro, who is the Editor-in-chief of THE BEAGLE NEWS, posited that: “The people should be politely inform of government policies by the implementors in such a way as to make it simple and straight to the point for them to comprehend and act on.
“They should also organise taxpayers’ education and seminars, stakeholders presentations, public hearings and media interviews as well as training sessions to drive government policies and programmes.
He charged the revenue service to develop a comprehensive media strategy to their target audience for effectiveness and efficiency of the revenue service.
“This is will engender development through revenue growth and trust to the various stakeholder,” he stated.