Economy
Speaker Assures Passage of 2024 Budget December 30
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, said on Tuesday that the 2024 budget will be passed on Saturday, December 30, 2023.
Mr Abbas made this disclosure during the plenary session following the resumption of the green chamber after a brief recess to allow committees to scrutinise the budget estimates submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The Speaker, however, did not reveal the figure finally agreed on as it will still harmonise its position with the Senate.
He notified the chamber that the Appropriation Committee has been directed to prepare reports of the budget defence by the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for submission by 8 pm on Tuesday.
President Tinubu presented a budget of N27.5 trillion to a joint section of the National Assembly on November 29 in Abuja.
The President pegged the budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year at N9.18 trillion and explained that the deficit represented 3.88 per cent of Nigeria’s gross domestic product.
“The N9.18 trillion deficit is lower than the N13.78 trillion deficit recorded in 2023 which represents 6.11 per cent of GDP.
“The deficit will be financed by new borrowings totalling N7.83 trillion, N298.49 billion from privatisation proceeds and N1.05 trillion drawdown on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific development projects,” Mr Tinubu had stated.
On December 1, 2023, the Senate passed the N27.5 trillion budget for a second reading. A breakdown shows:
– Education: N2.18 Trillion (7.9 per cent of Budget)
– N1.23 trillion provisioned for the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies (Recurrent & Capital expenditure)
– N251.47 billion allocated to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)
– N700.0 billion earmarked for infrastructure projects in Tertiary institutions through Transfers to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND)
Health: N1.33 Trillion (5 per cent of Budget)
– N1.07 trillion allocated for the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies (Recurrent & Capital expenditure)
– N137.21 billion set aside for Gavi/Immunization funds, including Counterpart Funding for Donor Supported Programmes
N125.74 billion transferred to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) amounting to 1 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)
Defence and Security: N3.25 Trillion (12 per cent of Budget)
– Allocation for Military, Police, Intelligence & ParaMilitary (Recurrent & Capital expenditure)
Infrastructure: N1.32 Trillion (5 per cent of Budget)
– Includes provisions for Works & Housing, Power, Transport, Water Resources, and Aviation
Social Development & Poverty Reduction Programs: N534 Billion (2 per cent of Budget)
– Allocation for Social Investments and Poverty Reduction Programmes
The breakdown also underlined the importance of each sector’s allocations in the 2024 budget plan, aiming to enhance the various facets of national development and welfare.
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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