Economy
NASS Will Pass 2018 Budget April 24—Dogara
By Dipo Olowookere
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has disclosed that all things being equal, the 2018 appropriation bill would be passed by the National Assembly on Tuesday April 24, 2018.
The budget was presented to both chambers of the parliament in November 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
There were plans to ensure that the documents, detailing how government plans to spend in the 2018 fiscal year, would be passed before the end of the first quarter of the year.
However, there have been delays in approving the bill by the parliament.
The National Assembly claimed most government agencies failed to come forward to defend their budgets for the year.
Last week, leadership of the parliament held a meeting with the President and this was explained to him.
The President then directed the various MDAs to appear before the various National Assembly committees to defend their budget. In fact, they were given till tomorrow to do so.
Speaking at the lower chamber yesterday, the Speaker, Mr Dogara, hinted that the 2018 budget would be laid out on April 19 and on April 24, it would be passed by both chambers of the parliament.
“We are proposing that we are laying the budget finally on the 19th of April 2018. Hopefully, we will be passing the budget on 24 April 2018. This is a harmonised calendar with the Senate,” Mr Dogara read a notice handed to him by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Sulaimon Yussuff.
President Buhari plans to spend N8.6 trillion in the 2018 fiscal year, which the nation’s biggest ever.
Recall that the 2017 budget was also delayed. It was passed in May 2017 and signed into law by the Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, who was then acting as President as a result of a medical vacation to London embarked upon by Mr Buhari.
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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