Economy
Entrepreneurs Don’t Need Professionals to Register Their Businesses—CAC
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has reiterated that the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020) will reduce the burden of starting and running small businesses in Nigeria as an individual can incorporate a private company.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), this was disclosed by the Registrar-General of the commission, Mr Garba Abubakar in an interview with the agency on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Abubakar said the provisions of the new CAMA would stimulate economic growth, attract investment and promote the Ease of Doing Business campaign of the federal government, especially for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
He further said CAMA 2020 provides for individuals to register their businesses with the CAC without going through a lawyer or other stipulated professionals.
He said that under the new act, it was possible for one person to form and incorporate a private company, unlike before when a sole member of a company was impossible.
“For most small entrepreneurs, they do not even have the capital to start the business and some have to borrow the money to even pay the registration fee.
“If you made it mandatory for them to go through professionals before they register, that is actually adding to the cost; it is an unnecessary burden.
“Those that can afford it can pay lawyers and accountants, and those that cannot be able to do their registration by themselves.
“Under the new law, one person can register a company, unlike before when you need a minimum of two persons as directors and shareholders.
“An individual can register a company and he will be the sole shareholder and the sole director, and that company will have all the powers of the company.
“In the past, only a business name was allowed to be registered by an individual but now a company can be registered by an individual,” he said.
The CAC Register-General said that another significant benefit for small businesses under CAMA 2020 was the increase in the threshold for qualification as a small company.
“Under the old CAMA, a small company is one with a yearly turnover not exceeding N2 million and a net asset value not exceeding N1 million; otherwise it is recognised as a large company.’’
He, however, said that CAMA 2020 had substantially increased the threshold to an annual turnover of not more than N120 million, and net asset value of not more than N60 million.
“The implication of the increase is that much more businesses may now take advantage of the regulatory and financial privileges enjoyed by small companies.
“The mandatory requirement for a secretary is now optional, the requirement for filing audited financial statement and appointment of the auditor is also optional for small companies.
“Under the new law, we now have Limited Partnership and Limited Liability Partnership as new legal entities, and this has actually opened windows for entrepreneurs.
“They have a choice to register companies as business name, have Limited Partnership and Limited Liability Partnership, and that actually support the ease of doing business initiative,” he said.
The Registrar-General also said CAMA now recognises the authentication of documents by the electronic signature of a director, secretary, or other authorised officials of the company.
He said that the act also endorsed the electronic transfer of shares and private companies might also hold their general meetings electronically, however, this must be permitted by the articles of the company.
He said that personal notice and a notice of meetings might also be sent by e-mail, and business operations conducted remotely, and electronically endorsed documents would be fully recognised by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“These provisions are geared toward easing business processes and eliminating challenges associated with strict application of the old CAMA,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on August 7 signed into law the CAMA 2020, which repeals and replaces the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange suffered its fifth decline for this week on Friday after it closed lower by 0.09 per cent, with the Unlisted Security Index (NSI) down by 8.91 points to 3,639.10 points from 3,642.22 points and the market capitalisation declining by N1.86 billion to end N2.177 trillion compared with the previous day’s N2.179 trillion.
Yesterday, the bourse recorded three price losers led by NASD Plc, which crumbled by N4.00 to close at N55.00 per share compared with the previous day’s N59.00 per share, as FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc depreciated by 68 Kobo to N66.23 per unit from Thursday’s closing price of N66.91 per unit, as Mass Telecom Innovation Plc lost 4 Kobo to end at 40 Kobo per share versus the preceding day’s 44 Kobo per share.
On the flip side, there were two price gainers led by Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, which added 21 Kobo to close at N40.81 per unit compared with the previous session’s N40.60 per share and UBN Property Plc, which improved by 10 Kobo to N2.09 per share from N1.99 per share.
During the session, the level of activity increased as the the volume of transactions surged by 255.7 per cent to 10.2 million units from 2.9 million units, the value of trades soared by 122.0 per cent to N189.5 million from N85.4 million, and the number of deals increased by 22.5 per cent to 49 deals from the previous day’s 40 deals.
When the bourse ended for the day, CSCS Plc remained the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 10.5 million units worth N427.7 million, trailed by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc with 893,553 units traded for N60.1 million, and MRS Oil Plc with 291,801 units valued at N58.3 million.
However, CSCS Plc took over as the most active stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 10.5 million units old for N427.7 million, as Geo-Fluids Plc slipped to second place with 7.7 million units worth N52.4 million, and Mass Telecom Innovation Plc occupied the third spot with 6.2 million units transacted for N2.5 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira appreciated against the US Dollar by 44 Kobo or 0.03 per cent in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Friday, January 24 to sell for N1,421.63/$1 compared with the N1,422.07/$1 it was traded on Thursday.
This was buoyed by increased FX inflows from exporters as well as sustained Dollar volume from non-bank corporate, individual and other sources.
However, the Naira lost N15.61 against the Pound Sterling in the same market window yesterday to quote at N1,924.17/£1 compared with the previous day’s value of N1,908.56/£1 and depreciated against the Euro by N3.60 to finish at N1,669.56/€1 versus the N1,665.96/€1 it was exchanged a day earlier.
At the GTBank forex counter, the Nigerian currency traded flat against its American counterpart at N1,430/$1, and also maintained stability against the greenback at the parallel market segment during the session at N1,485/$1.
Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market took a hit as slowdown occurred, explained by large holders taking profits.
The market had seen a short lived boost after Japanese intervention sent the Yen surging against the US Dollar, a move some saw as a necessary step toward resuming a bull market in crypto.
However, investors took profit with Dogecoin (DOGE) down by 0.8 per cent to $0.1240, and Cardano (ADA) down by 0.7 per cent to $0.3585.
Further, Solana (SOL) dropped 0.6 per cent to sell at $126.89, Litecoin (LTC) depreciated by 0.5 per cent to $68.42, and Binance Coin (BNB) fell by 0.1 per cent to $890.13.
But, Ripple (XRP) appreciated by 0.4 per cent to $1.91, Ethereum (ETH) rose by 0.3 per cent to $2,953.72, and Bitcoin (BTC) grew by 0.1 per cent to $89,477.58, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 each.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The House of Representatives Minority Caucus Ad-hoc Committee on Tax Laws on the Allegations of Illegal Alterations on the Gazetted Tax Laws has released an interim report on its findings, accusing the executive arm of government of removing and inserting some items in the bills passed by the parliament.
The chairman of the 7-man panel, Mr Afam Victor Ogene, in the report released on Friday, said the laws were altered after they were transmitted to the executive by the National Assembly for assent by President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that a member of the green chamber of the parliament, Mr Abdulsamad Dasuki, raised an alarm on the discrepancies in the gazetted version and the one passed by the legislative arm of government.
The Minority Caucus of the House of Reps, headed by Mr Kingsley Chinda, in a statement on December 28, 2025, vowed to “unconditionally protect the independence of the legislature and our democracy.”
It then constituted the committee on January 2, 2026, to get to the roots of all the issues surrounding the scandal.
The next day, the lower chamber of the National Assembly, through its spokesman, Mr Akintunde Rotimi, released a statement announcing that the Speaker, Mr Abbas Tajudeen, had directed the release of the four tax reform Acts; The Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; The Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; The National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025, duly signed into law by the President, for public record, verification, and reference.
The statement further added that the Speaker has also ordered an internal verification and immediate public release of the Certified Acts to eliminate doubts, restore clarity, and protect the sanctity of the legislature.
In its report yesterday, the panel said it discovered some alterations in the gazetted version, noting that, “given the anomalies, illegalities, and impunity observed, which clearly undermine the National Assembly’s constitutional powers and democracy, the committee finds the current evidence sufficient to warrant a deeper investigation. This will ensure accountability for the affront against the legislature.”
“To achieve this, the committee respectfully requests an extension to conduct a more thorough examination of the matter,” it added.
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