Economy
NASD OTC Exchange Unveils Guidelines for Rights Issue
By Adedapo Adesanya
The management of NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange has published a draft document contain rules for admission of right issues by companies trading their securities on its platform.
In a notice released on Thursday, the regulator said firms on its platform intending to raise fresh capital via rights issue must adhere to the guidelines, including receiving approvals from the necessary organs, shareholders inclusive.
Business Post reports that rights issue allows existing shareholders to purchase additional shares in proportion to their existing holdings, which will help raise supplementary capital for the company.
In the circular analysed by Business Post, NASD said any company seeking to conduct rights issue must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a public liability company and also have its securities registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and admitted on NASD trading platform.
It further said the process of admission of a rights issue shall be sponsored by a participating institution and the subscription offer shall remain open for a maximum period of 28 working days.
Furthermore, the issuing firm must present an application letter as well as a letter of Indemnity,which must be duly executed by authorized representatives of the company and notarized in favor of NASD PLC followed by a General Undertaking to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the NASD Securities Exchange.
The company is also required to complete the NASD Form 3 which can be accessed via: https://nasdng.com/wpcontent/uploads/2018/11/NASD_Form_3_Admission_to_trade_a_new_security_v4.pdf
Also, the SEC must give approval for the company’s proposed rights issue and shareholders must give consent to the approval of rights issue, with a notice of the general meeting approving the proposed exercise as published in two national dailies attached to the application.
Among other documents required are the audited financial statements of the preceding full year alongside the unaudited or interim financial statements for the current fiscal year in which the application was brought.
The issuer was also asked to get consent letters duly executed by each Director, Company Secretary and Professional Advisers to the issue and notarized with a copy of the rights poster to be circulated to the public upon SEC’s final approval.
NASD stated in the draft that for the application procedure and trading notification, it would review and advise the participating institution on its compliance status and give its conditional approval to the proposed rights issue which will be then be subjected to a final approval by he SEC and holding of the signing ceremony.
The participating institutions are required to forward to NASD the final approval of SEC for the Rights Issue and other outstanding documents which it may request not later than 48 hours after the signing ceremony.
The NASD said that it would then notify the participating institution in writing within 48 hours of its decision following receipt of the aforementioned documents and then notify the OTC Market of the open and close date of the rights issue.
NASD said companies intending to do a rights issue would be required to submit all the necessary documents in electronic and hard copy formats.
Concluding, the agency said, “The above requirements are not exhaustive and NASD reserves the right to request additional information.”
CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW THE NASD DRAFT RULES FOR ADMISSION OF RIGHTS ISSUES
Economy
NGX RegCo Cautions Investors on Recent Price Movements
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.
Economy
Stronger Taxpayer Confidence, Others Should Determine Tax Reform Success—Tegbe
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.
Economy
NUPENG Seeks Clarity on New Oil, Gas Executive Order
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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