Economy
CBN Wants Pension Funds Invested in Manufacturing, Agric Sectors
By Dipo Olowookere
Federal government has been advised to talk to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to look for a way to make pension fund administrators in the country invest most of their portfolios in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors of the economy.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which made this call, said exposure to government securities should be minimised by the fund administrators.
Governor of the CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, while addressing newsmen last week in Abuja, said the PFAs can also look into investment in the real estate industry, which provides viable long-term return.
“The committee called on government to urge the pensions commission to improve the prudential requirements for pension funds to refocus their investment portfolio away from their traditional choice of government securities in favour of other viable long-term investments in real estate, manufacturing and agriculture; and indeed infrastructure,” Mr Emefiele said in a communique he read after the two-day MPC meeting.
Speaking further, the apex bank chief said, “The committee called for strong visibility of fiscal and structural policies to improve infrastructure and investment conditions in the economy.
“It expressed strong optimism that the current policies of the bank, in a regime of solid fiscal and structural policy support, would yield strong dividends in closing the current negative output gap in the medium to long term, and place the economy on a sustainable and self-sufficient path of output growth.”
Business Post recalled that last week, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed that investment in FGN securities contributed 71.43 percent to the N9.58trn pension assets in the third quarter of this year. READ IT HERE: FGN Securities Contribute 71.43% to N9.58trn Pension Assets
From the numbers, investment in FGN Bonds gulped 46.71 percent, while treasury bills added 23.62 percent. In value terms, out of the N9.58 trillion pension assets, N6.85 trillion came from FGN securities, with FGN Bonds gulping N4.48 trillion and T-bills N2.26 trillion.
In addition, the local money market securities contributed 11.21 percent or N1.10 trillion to the value weight while foreign money market securities has the least with 0.09 percent weight.
Investment in Sukuk added N80.53 billion or 0.84 percent, while green bonds had N13.38 billion or 0.14 percent, with state government bonds adding N125.24 billion or 1.13 percent and corporate debt securities N621.96 billion or 6.49 percent.
Also, investment in real estate properties N231.48 billion or 2.42 percent, while mutual funds had N21.81 billion or 0.23 percent, with foreign money market securities contributing N8.42 billion or 0.09 percent.
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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