Companies involved in the climate change fight have been asked to begin disclosure of financial accounts starting from January 1, 2024.

According to the Federal Government, this initiative which is in line with the International Sustainability Standards Board is to promote transparency and accountability of financial information to investors.

The Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Shuaibu Ahmed, made this known on Wednesday during the inauguration of the Adoption Readiness Working Group in Abuja.

The early adoption of the policy was part of recommendations made during the COP 27 Climate Change Conference held last year in Egypt.

Ahmed noted that the latest development followed an explosion in the burden of non-financial reporting requirements on companies.

Speaking during his address, Ahmed said, “I am very delighted to welcome you all to this programme today which could not have come at a more auspicious time other than now when the primary users of general purpose financial statements (i.e. investors, lenders, creditors and other stakeholders) globally are calling for more transparent, comparable and verifiable sustainability-related financial information to help them assess an entity’s enterprise value.

“We are now in a world where reliable sustainability information is becoming as important as financial information. The focus on Financial Statements is a viable way to an integrated approach to financial information, Environmental, social and governance or Sustainability information and broader non-financial information.”

He added that with the issuance of two sustainability standards; General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information and Climate-Related Disclosures, investors will be knowledgeable about risks and opportunities facing an entity to inform their decisions on providing resources.

Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Evelyn Ngige, commended the forward-thinking ambition of the agency and urged to ensure adequate implementation of the policy when passed.

The perm sec represented by the Director,  Policy,  Planning,  Research and Statistics, Alhaji Baba Gana Alkali, said, “There is a global understanding that the implementation of IFRS S1 & S2 will enhance corporate reporting and unlock capital, especially to emerging markets like Nigeria. Therefore, I implore all of you to work tirelessly to ensure that these standards are appropriately implemented.”