Economy
SEC Pays N29.2b Unclaimed Dividend To Investors
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A total of N29.2 billion unclaimed dividends has been paid out by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) to investors who before now did not claim their dividends.
This was disclosed on Friday by the Director General of SEC, Mr Mounir Gwarzo, at the end of the Capital Market Committee (CMC) press briefing.
In January 2016, Mr Gwarzo had said unclaimed dividends in the Nigerian Capital market (NCM) stood at N90 billion and advised investors to register for e-dividend to ensure receipt of the funds.
Speaking at the briefing, the SEC boss said from November 2015 to October 2016, Registrars where directed to pay arrears of unclaimed dividends and they have paid out the sum of N29.2 billion arrears of unclaimed dividend.
He further disclosed that unclaimed dividends rose by over 600 percent in the last 15 years.
In 1999, it was about N2 billion, rose steadily to N8 billion in 2008, N41billion in 2011, N60 billion in 2013, and N80 billion at the end of 2014.
Mr Gwarzo said as part of SEC’s 10-Year Nigerian Capital Market Master Plan (NCMMP), the Commission was poised to make the Direct Cash Settlement (DCS) mandatory to investors who will be inside the network unless for those who decides to opt out of the plan.
He said with the DCS, “You pay directly to investors account and we have expanded the committee on e-dividend to look into the direct cash settlement.”
He further said SEC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to infuse capital market studies (CMS) into schools’ curriculum, explained that this will enhance appreciation of a child of the capital market.
Also, Mr Gwarzo said SEC has achieved 97 percent dematerialisation and hopes to reach a 100 percent in the next three (3) months.
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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