Economy
PFAs to Submit Micro Pension Media Campaign Plan by January 31
By Adedapo Adesanya
Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) are expected to submit their 2022 media campaign plan to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) on or before January 31, 2022.
The media campaign plan will detail arrangements set for the creation of awareness on the Micro Pension Plan (MPP).
First launched in 2020, the contributors in the MPP are just over 70,000, a development that moved PenCom to mandate PFAs to develop and forward an annual media campaign plan to drive subscription.
PenCom in a Framework For Enlightenment And Public Awareness For The Micro Pension Plan, sent to all pension fund administrators in the month of August 2021, said this is in line with Section 2.2 of the Circular on Service Delivery by Pension Fund Administrators.
The regulator also stated that it shall be required to develop an annual media campaign Plan for MPP on or before 31 January of each year.
PenCom noted that sequel to the release of the guidelines for the Micro Pension Plan, it identified the need to intensify public enlightenment in a sustained manner, in order to raise the level of awareness and acceptability of the MPP as a critical success factor.
It maintained that the framework spelt out the modalities for the Commission and Pension Fund Administrators to ensure effective and sustained enlightenment and public awareness drive of the MPP.
PenCom submitted that Section 2(3) of the PRA 2014 stipulates that employees of organisations with less than three employees as well as self-employed persons, shall be entitled to participate under the Scheme in accordance with Guidelines issued by the Commission, adding that Section 23 (f) of the PRA 2014 mandates the Commission to “carry out public awareness, enlightenment and education on the establishment, operations and management of the Scheme”.
The pension sector regulators said Sections 5.3.1(c) and 5.4.1(i) of the Guidelines for Micro Pension Plan 2018 stipulate that the Commission shall “create awareness by carrying out public enlightenment and education on the establishment, operations and management of MPP” and PFAs shall “conduct regular public awareness, enlightenment and education on Micro Pension Plan”, respectively.
Section 6.3.1 of the Guidelines for the Operations of Pension Fund Administrators stipulates that a PFA must obtain prior written approval of the Commission before advertising, promoting or providing information on its products and services or about its operations.
The entire material for distribution, advertising, promotion or informing the public must be submitted to the Commission for this purpose, it posited.
PenCom stated that the framework aims to achieve the following: Set minimum standards for enlightenment and public awareness on MPP and ensure adherence to best practices in Public Relations.
Ensure that PFAs set up appropriate structures to effectively carry out enlightenment and public awareness for registered and prospective Micro Pension Contributors (MPC); protect registered and prospective MPC from false and misleading information; form the basis for monitoring and evaluating the enlightenment and public awareness efforts of the Commission and PFAs on the MPP and achieve the Pension Industry’s strategic vision on expanded coverage of the CPS.
It noted that the following rules shall apply to the Commission and PFAs. PFAs shall establish a desk and appoint an officer to oversee all enlightenment and public awareness activities on the MPP in line with Section 7.1.1(i) of the Guidelines for the Micro Pension Plan, issued by the Commission.
All messages on the MPP shall be communicated in clear, explicit and easy to understand terms; the content of MPP messages shall not be false or misleading; PFAs shall, in conducting enlightenment and public awareness campaigns, comply with the Code of Ethics and Best Practices for Licensed Pension Operators issued by the Commission with emphasis on Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of the document.
All advertisements on MPP shall be in line with provisions of Section 6.0 of the Guidelines for Operations of Pension Fund Administrators, issued by the Commission and shall not violate any extant law and/or Guidelines issued by the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) or any other licensed body for the regulation of advertisement in Nigeria.
The Commission and PFAs shall use the most appropriate communication channels for the audience and the Commission and PFAs shall conduct impact surveys on their enlightenment and public awareness campaigns.
By Dipo Olowookere
ASO Savings and Loans Plc has been delisted from the daily official list of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
This action followed the revocation of the operating licence of the company by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2025.
In a circular on behalf of the NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) by Ugochi Eke, it was disclosed that the effective date of the delisting is today, Friday, January 16, 2026.
Already, the company has been notified of this development, according to the notice obtained by Business Post.
Before ASO Savings lost its operating licence, it had failed to meet some post-listing requirements, a part of the disclosure from the NGX RegCo stated.
“The board of NGX Regulation Limited via its decision dated January 1, 2026, approved that the step below should be taken pursuant to the process for regulatory delisting of issuers.
“The board has approved the delisting of ASO Savings and Loans Plc from the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“ASO Savings is hereby notified of this enforcement action and is advised to direct any communication in respect of the foregoing to [email protected].
“NGX RegCo was engaging the listed entity, concerning its outstanding post-listing obligations. However, due to the revocation of the operating license of ASO Savings by its primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective December 16, 2025; NGX RegCo will delist the entity from the daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“In view of the foregoing, NGX RegCo has proceeded with publishing the name of the Company in the national dailies.
“The company has been duly notified of this enforcement action, and this publication serves as notification to the investing public, particularly shareholders of the company and investors in the Nigerian capital market,” the statement read.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, has issued a stern warning to oil and gas investors that petroleum licences in Nigeria are strictly for active development, not asset hoarding or speculative holding, declaring that operators must drill or risk losing their rights.
He made this admonition while delivering his message at the 2025 Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Licensing Bid Round Conference in Lagos, where he outlined the government’s hardline stance on asset utilisation and investor accountability.
“The oil assets in portfolio are not mere symbols or souvenirs,” Mr Lokpobiri said, adding that, “Holders of licences are obligated to drill, drill and drill for a shared benefit for the Government, Nigerians and the operators.”
He stressed that the administration is determined to ensure petroleum assets are translated into tangible economic value, noting that licences are time-bound rights granted solely for productive use.
“These assets belong to the Federal Government, and licences are granted strictly for a defined period for productive use, not passive ownership,” the minister said. “Our licensing framework is designed to eliminate speculation and ensure that only serious, capable investors participate.”
Mr Lokpobiri also issued a strong caution to bidders seeking to participate in the 2025 licensing round, urging them to fully understand the process and obligations before submitting bids.
“As prospects take part in this bid round, a clear understanding of the modus operandi guiding the process is essential,” he said, recalling previous bid rounds where some winners attempted to reverse their commitments.
“Past experiences have shown instances where some winning bidders sought refunds based on unmet expectations or perceived asset limitations,” Lokpobiri stated. “Such actions are untenable, as there is no provision in law for the refund of a bid already won.”
According to him, the conference was convened to remove ambiguity and protect the integrity of the licensing system, stressing that the government would strictly enforce all contractual obligations arising from the process.
“This conference serves to provide clarity upfront,” he said. “Participants must be fully informed, deliberate and committed, as the Government will uphold the sanctity of the process and enforce all obligations.”
The minister’s remarks reinforce the Federal Government’s broader push to accelerate upstream development, boost production and attract only technically and financially capable investors into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, amid renewed licensing activity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
By Dipo Olowookere
The suspension earlier placed on Premier Paints Plc, preventing investors from buying and selling its stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, has now been lifted.
The embargo was removed on Wednesday, a notice from the stock exchange, seen by Business Post, disclosed.
Almost four years ago, Premier Paints was suspended from the bourse due to the inability of its board to file the company’s financial results.
The NGX had on July 1, 2022, informed the investing community it had prohibited the trading of the organisation’s securities “in line with the provisions of Rule 3.1: Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing (Default Filing Rules).
The part of the rules provides that: “If an Issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will; a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period, b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities, and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.”
In the latest disclosure dated Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and signed by the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of the NGX, Mr Godstime Iwenekhai, it was revealed that Premier Paints has now done the needful.
“The company has now filed all outstanding financial statements to Nigerian Exchange Limited.
“In view of the company’s submission of its outstanding financial statements, and pursuant to Rule 3.3 of the Default Filing Rules, which states that; The suspension of trading in the issuer’s securities shall be lifted upon submission of the relevant accounts provided The exchange is satisfied that the accounts comply with all applicable rules of the exchange. The exchange shall thereafter also announce through the medium by which the public and the SEC was initially notified of the suspension, that the suspension has been lifted, trading license holders and the investing public are hereby notified that the suspension placed on trading on the shares of Premier Paints Plc was lifted (on) Wednesday, January 14, 2026,” the circular stated.
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