Economy
I Created 17,173 Jobs In 9 Months In Delta—Okowa
***Raked N71.3b In Six Months
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has disclosed that the state, under his care, recorded about N71.3 billion in revenue from January to June 2016.
This, he said, was against the projected N268 billion contained in the Delta State’s 2016 appropriation Act.
In his performance report presented at the Lagos Business School, Mr Okowa revealed that the state raked N21,996,004,767 through internally generated revenue (IGR).
According to the report, a total of N41,015,052,512 was earned in statutory allocation including mineral revenue derivative while Value Added Tax, VAT and other capital receipts, while miscellaneous accounted for N3,500,000,000.
The summary of the expenditure performance on the other hand showed that recurrent expenditure stood at N57, 635, 946, 116 while capital expenditure stood at N13, 562, 041, 834 within the period under review.
Mr Okowa, who was making a presentation on ‘Public policy and governance in Delta State: Opportunities and challenges’, said the half year report showed strong positive indicators with the fiscal imbalance of the State in the past being curtailed through fiscal discipline, prudence and accountability.
The Governor said as a result of these, “Revenue for the first half of the year is marginally higher than the expenditure, with positive percentage variance of 0.9 per cent.”
According to Mr Okowa, his administration was also able to create a total of 17,173 jobs between August 2015 and May, 2016, even as it targets at least 50,000 jobs annually up until 2019.
He said the jobs were created through the various programmes and initiatives of his administration within the period, noting that out of the total number of jobs created, agricultural support accounted for 7,293 jobs, microcredit support, 4,440 jobs while the rest was generated through public works such as roads and housing construction, transport, sanitation, etc.
Speaking further, he said Delta State through the ‘Delta State Medium Term Development Plan’ targets to, “Grow the Delta State economy by at least 5 per cent annually, create 50,000 jobs annually up to 2019, increase household income by 5 per cent annually, reduce unemployment by 5 per cent annually, reduce overall poverty by 5 per cent and reduce the proportion of Deltans living below poverty line by 5 per cent annually.”
Other targets include: “Ensuring that at least 30 per cent of Deltans have access to health insurance scheme by 2017, achieve a more comfortable level of debt sustainability by 2019, establish a strong safety net for the vulnerable by 2019 and significantly raise public confidence level in governance in Delta State by 2019.”
The Governor also noted that some of the challenges confronting the State such as the current economic downturn will be tackled through “budget discipline, prudent management of resources and strict fiscal control measures to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste and plug leakages.”
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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