SW treasurers trained on innovations in 2023 Finance Law.

Participants at the seminar included service heads, auditors, and Divisional, Subdivisional, Regional Assembly, City Councils and municipal treasurers, as well as all accounting officers of the region.

The 2023 state budget, it should be recalled, was voted to balance in revenue and expenditures at 6, 345.1 billion FCFA. The amount witnessed an increase of 264.7 billion FCFA from 2022.

The seminar, according to Eyong Eric Eyong of the Treasury Department, representing the Director General of Treasury, Financial and Monetary Cooperation, was an opportunity for stakeholders to be schooled on some innovations included in the 2023 finance law.

“The finance law of 2023 has some adjustments that have to be taken into account by our accountants or treasurers in this region. So, we are here today to enlighten them on the innovations contained in the 2023 Finance Law, the ministerial circular signed by the Minister of Finance and our nomenclature of accounts which is the document used by each accountant to report in terms of the execution of the state budget upon the activities carried out in their station,” he said.

On his part, the Treasurer Paymaster General of South West Region, Angoula Mbassi Ananias, said the seminar provided an opportunity for them to ease the work of their collaborators

“Today’s seminar is a traditional seminar organised by the Minister of Finance and the Director General of Treasury, Financial and Monetary Cooperation to explain to our collaborators, the nomenclature of accounts for the 2023 fiscal year. It’s a very important tool for us accountants on the field so that we can record our accounts without any problem according to the rules and regulations,” Angoula added.

The principal innovation in the 2023 Finance Law year is the continuation of the implementation of the transformation of the accounting system launched since last year. The patrimonial system in place now, officials say, will enable collaborators render better accounts of the management of state patrimony.

Addressing the participants, Eyong Eric Eyong, stressed on the need for them to be vigilant so as to give the right reporting and justification on accounts.

“…last year was the first and this year we are going ahead because there are some accounts that have been created and some suppressed. They need to be aware so that in terms of reporting and justification, they should be able to forward the necessary supporting and justifying documents to headquarters,” Eyong noted.

While acknowledging the challenges faced by his collaborators, Eyong encouraged them to be open during the seminar to present their worries and thus get remedies.

“Accounting is a computerised system and each time there is a new system, users face so many challenges. That is why we will train them step by step on how to go about it and God willing by the end of the day, they will go home edified,” he added.