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Economy

First Bank, United Capital, Others Enter Closed Period for Q1

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By Dipo Olowookere

The earnings season for the first quarter of 2020 is already here and companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are preparing to file their financial statements from this month.

During this period, a certain category of investors is prohibited from trading shares of quoted firms. This is called the closed period and violation of this rule, which is called insider trading, comes with heavy sanctions.

The set of people forbidden to trade shares in the closed period are directors, persons discharging managerial responsibility, employees with sensitive information, advisers and consultants of the companies and their connected persons.

On Thursday, FBN Holdings, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, announced that it would on closed period from Friday, April 10, 2020 till 24 hours after the accounts are filed with the exchange.

It further said it board will have a meeting on Friday, April 17, 2020 to consider and approve the its financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2020.

On its part, Fidelity Bank said its board will gather on Thursday, April 24, 2020 for its unaudited Q1 2020 earnings. As a result, it has entered a closed period from April 1, until 24 hours after the release of the results.

“The bank had earlier communicated to its insiders, a closed period relating to trading in the shares of the bank from April 1, 2020 until 24 hours after the bank’s unaudited accounts for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 is released to the public,” a notice signed by the Company Secretary, Ezinwa Unuigboje, stated.

For United Capital, its board will meet in Lagos on Friday, April 17, 2020 to consider among other things the company’s Q1 2020 results.

In view of this, United Capital has declared a closed period for trading in the shares of the company from Thursday, April 2, 2020 until the release of the accounts.

GTBank, which has also announced a closed period for Q1 2020 from April 7, stated that its “board would be meeting on April 22, 2020 subject to the restriction of activities imposed by the authorities in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The lender further said “subject to the said restrictions, attendance via electronic channels would be an option.”

Another firm, Lafarge Africa, commenced its closed period from Wednesday, April 8, 2020 until the unaudited financial statement for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 is released on the floor of the NSE. The company said its board will meet on Thursday, April 23, 2020 to consider the Q1 earnings.

On its part, Transcorp has asked all its insiders desist from trading the company’s stocks from April 15, 2020 up to 24 hours after the release of the results.

The board is scheduled to have its meeting on April 30, 2020 to consider among other things the unaudited financial statements of the company for Q1 2020.

For Access Bank, its board will gather on Thursday, April 23, 2020 for the first quarter earnings. In view of this, a closed period has been declared and this started on April 9, 2020 and will last until the results are announced.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Economy

NGX RegCo Cautions Investors on Recent Price Movements

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NGX RegCo

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The investing public has been advised to exercise due diligence before trading stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

This caution was given by the NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the independent regulatory arm of the NGX Group Plc.

The advisory became necessary in response to notable price movements observed in the shares of certain listed companies over recent trading sessions.

On Monday, the bourse suspended trading in the shares of newly-listed Zichis Agro-allied Industries Plc. The company’s stocks gained almost 900 per cent within a month of its listing on Customs Street.

In a statement today, NGX RegCo urged investors to avoid speculative trading based on unverified information and to consult licensed intermediaries such as stockbrokers or investment advisers when needed.

It explained that its advisory is part of its standard market surveillance functions, as it serves as a measured reminder for investors to prioritise informed and disciplined decision-making.

The notice emphasised that the Exchange will continue to monitor market activities closely in line with its mandate to ensure a fair, orderly, and transparent market.

“NGX RegCo encourages all investors to base their decisions on publicly available information, including a thorough assessment of company fundamentals, financial performance, and risk profile,” a part of the disclosure said.

It reassured all stakeholders that the NGX remains stable, well-regulated, and resilient, saying the platform continues to foster an environment where investors can participate with confidence, supported by robust oversight and transparent market operations.

“Our primary responsibility is to maintain a level playing field where market participants can trade with confidence, backed by timely and accurate information.

“This advisory is a routine communication, reinforcing that sound fundamentals, not speculation, remain the foundation for sustainable investment outcomes. We are fully committed to preserving the integrity and stability of our market,” the chief executive of NGX RegCo, Mr Olufemi Shobanjo, stated.

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Economy

Stronger Taxpayer Confidence, Others Should Determine Tax Reform Success—Tegbe

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), Mr Joseph Tegbe, has tasked the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to measure the success of the new tax laws by higher voluntary compliance rates, lower administrative costs, fewer disputes, faster resolution cycles, and stronger taxpayer confidence.

Speaking at the 2026 Leadership Retreat of the agency, Mr Tegbe said, “Sustainable revenue performance is built on trust and efficiency, not enforcement intensity,” emphasising that the legitimacy and predictability of the system are more critical than punitive measures.

He underscored that the country’s tax reform journey is at a critical juncture where effective implementation will determine long-term fiscal outcomes.

The NTPIC chief stressed that tax policy must serve as an enabler of governance, and should embody simplicity, equity, predictability, and administrability at scale.

These principles, he explained, foster voluntary compliance, reduce operational friction, and strengthen investor confidence. He warned that ad-hoc adjustments or policy drift could undermine reform momentum, unsettle businesses, and deter investment, which thrives on predictable rules rather than shifting announcements. Structured sequencing, clear transition mechanisms, and continuous feedback between policymakers and administrators are therefore critical to sustaining reform credibility.

Mr Tegbe further argued that revenue reform cannot succeed in isolation. Achieving sustainable gains requires a whole-of-government approach, leveraging robust taxpayer identification systems, integrated financial data, efficient dispute resolution, and harmonised coordination across federal and sub-national levels. This approach, he said, reduces leakages, eliminates multiple taxation, and reinforces confidence in the system.

He noted that the passage of four new tax laws marks only the beginning of a broader reform agenda, describing the initiative as a systemic recalibration of Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, rather than a routine policy update.

He further asserted that the true measure of success will be the credibility of implementation, not the design of the laws themselves.

The NRS, he noted, functions as the nation’s “Revenue System Integrator,” with outcomes reflecting the strength of an interconnected ecosystem that encompasses policy clarity, enforcement consistency, digital infrastructure, dispute resolution efficiency, and intergovernmental coordination.

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Economy

NUPENG Seeks Clarity on New Oil, Gas Executive Order

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NUPENG

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Union of Natural and Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed deep concern over the Executive Order by President Bola Tinubu mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to remit directly to the federation account.

In a statement signed by its president, Mr William Akporeha, over the weekend in Lagos, the union noted that the absence of detailed public engagement had naturally generated tension within the sector and heightened restiveness among workers, who are anxious to know how the new directive may affect their employment, welfare and job security, especially as it affects NNPC and other major operations in the oil and gas sector.

It pointed out that the industry remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and employment.

The NUPENG president affirmed that any policy shift, particularly one introduced through an Executive Order, has far-reaching consequences for regulatory frameworks, Investment decisions, operational standards, and labour relations within the sector.

According to him, “there is an urgent need for clarity on the scope and objectives of the Executive Order -What precise reforms or adjustments does it introduce? “Its implications for the Petroleum Industry Act -Does the Order amend, interpret, or expand existing provisions under PIA?

“Impact on workers and existing labour agreements-Will it affect job security, conditions of service, Collective Bargaining agreements or ongoing restructuring processes within the industry? “Effects on indigenous participation and local content development -How will it affect Nigerian companies and employment opportunities for citizens?”

He warned that without proper consultation and explanation, misinterpretations of the Executive Order may spread across the industry, potentially destabilising operations and undermining industrial harmony that stakeholders have worked hard to sustain.

“Though our union remains committed to constructive engagement, national development and stability of the oil and gas sector, however, we are duty-bound and constitutionally bound to protect the rights and welfare and job security of our members whose livelihoods depend on a clear, fair and predictable policy framework,” Mr Akporeha further stated.

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