Economy
Senate Moves to Investigate Fuel Subsidy Regime
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate has constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the fuel subsidy regime of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which cost about N4.3 trillion alone in 2022.
This followed the adoption of a motion tagged Need to Investigate the Controversial Huge Expenditure on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the Subsidy/Under Recovery Regime by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by Senator Patrick Chinwuba during plenary on Tuesday.
Moving the motion, Mr Chinwuba said that the federal government, on May 11, 2016, announced an increase in fuel pump price from N87 to between N135 and N145 per litre.
“This was in its fight against corruption and in order to plug the presumed highly proliferated leakages, wastages, and slippages surrounding the fuel subsidy as well as in an attempt to end the controversial subsidy regime.
“At the inauguration of the present government on May 29, the President took a bold step to announce the total removal of fuel subsidy, noting that the scheme has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor,” he said.
He said that the government’s interest in exiting the subsidy regime was in line with the policy of reducing the cost of governance and the desire to eliminate corrupt practices surrounding the scheme.
“The NNPCL, within the period of subsidy exit attempt, substituted the term subsidy with under recovery without any recourse to the National Assembly or supervision by any other arm of the government.
“While NNPCL within 10 years, 2006 and 2015, claimed about N170 billion as under-recovery, the same NNPCL within 13 months, January 2018 to January 2019 claimed a whopping sum of N843.121 billion as under-recovery,” he said.
The lawmaker expressed worry that the uninvestigated and alarming cost of under-recovery/direct deductions by NNPCL without necessary checks had led to a great misunderstanding of the government’s good intention on subsidy removal.
Supporting the motion, Senator Jibrin Isa said that the utilisation of the savings arising from the removal of the subsidy was very important.
“This is where our oversight function comes to play.
“These monies that are going to be recovered from the discontinuance of fuel subsidy should be used to revive some of the ailing companies in particular; the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company in Kogi and Oshogbo Iron and Steel Rolling Mills in Osun.
“Those projects can create a lot of employment opportunities, create a lot of revenue for the government,” he said.
Also, Senator Osita Izunaso said “we need to look at the palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
“Much as we are going to make a lot of gains from subsidy removal, we have to look at the suffering of our people.”
On his part, Senator Mohammed Monguno said that the previous government did not have the political will to withdraw the subsidy.
“We thank this government for taking the bull by the horn and gathering all the political will to withdraw the subsidy in the interest of Nigerians.
“We are now saving a lot of money, which we can use to deploy for revamping our infrastructure.
“In view of the hardship unleashed on Nigerians as a result of the subsidy, there is the need for government to take responsibility in cushioning the effect of the removal,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The pre-registration training and examination for capital market operators (CMOs) for the second quarter of 2026 has been postponed.
Business Post gathered that the new date for the exercise is now Monday, June 15, 2026.
This information was disclosed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) through a circular on Monday, June 8, 2026.
The Nigerian capital market regulator stated that this postponement has also resulted in the extension of the deadline for registration to Friday, June 12, 2026.
In the notice today, the SEC expressed its regret for the inconvenience this action may cause operators, who had prepared for the initial date of the training and examination.
“Further to the recent circular on Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hereby informs all eligible applicants for the Q2 2026 Pre-registration Training and Examination that the commencement date has been postponed to Monday, June 15, 2026.
“Registration on the designated portal has also been extended to Friday, June 12, 2026. All other conditions contained in the circular remain unchanged.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause and appreciates the understanding of all applicants,” the disclosure noted.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading healthcare firms in Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare Plc, has listed additional shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
The new stocks absorbed into the stock market were 600 million units, raising the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each from 2,400,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.
The fresh equities came from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share.
They were issued to existing investors on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as of the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Confirming the development, the regulator in a notice said, “Trading licence holders are hereby notified that an additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each of Fidson Healthcare Plc were on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, listed on the daily official list of Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“The additional shares arose from the company’s rights issue of 600,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N35.00 per share on the basis of one new ordinary share for every existing four ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
“With the listing of the additional 600,000,000 ordinary shares, the total issued and fully paid-up shares of Fidson Healthcare Plc have now increased from 2,400,000,000 to 3,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
This news will surely excite local contractors with verified claims of N100 million or less, as the federal government has approved their payments.
This approval for the disbursement was given by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
This followed a verification and reconciliation exercise designed to ensure only validated claims qualify for payment.
The beneficiaries cover contractors across multiple ministries, departments and agencies. The release of the funds is expected to enable contractors to return to project sites, pay workers, settle suppliers and meet outstanding financial commitments.
In an announcement on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Finance also said this latest batch of payments would ease liquidity pressure on small businesses and accelerate economic activity nationwide.
It was noted that the payments for verified claims of N100 million below were strategically done to spread economic impact broadly rather than concentrate disbursements among a handful of large firms.
The payments form part of a broader push to clear inherited contractor obligations, with over N700 billion verified in recent months.
“For many beneficiaries, the release of funds represents more than a financial transaction. It provides the certainty needed to sustain operations, preserve jobs, complete ongoing projects, and contribute to economic recovery and growth,” the ministry said in a statement.
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