Economy
Senate’s Economic Bills Target 7.5m Jobs, Cut Poverty by 16.4%
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 11 economic bills now receiving accelerated consideration by the 8th Senate will help to create 7.5million jobs and reduce poverty by 16.4 percent when passed into law, Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki has said.
The number three man disclosed this in his welcome address to his colleagues on resumption from their Christmas and New Year recess on Tuesday.
He urged the relevant committees to fast-track the priority Bills so they can be passed and submitted to the executive alongside the 2017 budget.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sanni Onogu in Abuja, the Senate President also stated that the 2017–2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) would be debated and passed this week while the consideration of the 2017 Appropriation Bill (budget) would occupy the “three sitting days” of next week.
He, however, urged all heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) to ensure timeous submission of their annual budgets within the current budget cycle or risk waiting for the next fiscal cycle if they fail.
“As long as our economy is still in recession, our work is not done. Because our people are still being laid off; so long as factories are closing shop, for as long as the hardship in the land continues to bite harder, investment continues to dwindle and the foreign exchange market remains fragmented, I will be demanding even much more from us to get all our economic reform bills passed,” Mr Saraki said.
Mr Saraki pointed out that, “Ideally, we would like to see them pass together with the 2017 budget. Let me, therefore, urge all our committees involved with our priority bills to double efforts to ensure that by the end of the first quarter of this year we will have these bills ready.
“We promise to pass our priority economic reform bills to help aid our economic recovery. This is a promise we must keep. There are already, new NASSBER (National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable) research findings projecting that our priority bills, will have an output impact equivalent to an average of 6.87 percent of GDP over a 5-year period on the economy.
“The average annual growth in jobs is estimated at approximately 7.55 million additional employments as well as an average of 16.42 poverty reduction in Nigeria’s poverty rate.
“Over the projected 5-year period, it is suggested that the reforms, which these bills would engender, may add an average of N3.76 Trillion to National incomes (National Disposable Income was the N85.62 trillion in 2014), equivalent to 4.39 percent of 2014 figures.
“These statistics make the delivery of these bills imperative and confirm evidently that we have got our priorities right so far. It is hoped that as we begin to turn our focus now towards the passage of the 2017 budget, these bills will be implemented simultaneously with the budget to enable us to exit the recession quickly.
“It is, therefore, imperative that we immediately begin work earnestly on the MTEF to ensure passage by the end of the week. In this way, consideration and debate on the 2017 budget will immediately follow in the three ‘sitting days’ of the next week.”
“It is our hope that we will with this budget begin the implementation of the report of the Committee on Budget Reforms, which has since submitted its report.
“This will enable more Nigerians to participate in the budget consideration process, deepen the review and create the necessary efficiencies we expect from our budget implementation,” he said.
He noted that 2016 was a ‘very challenging year’ for Nigerians, but assured the lawmakers that the work the Senate has done is gradually setting the stage for a greater and better 2017.
“It is already historic that within the last quarter, which incidentally is the second quarter of this session, we all rolled up our sleeves, with sweat on our brows and successfully passed 49 bills through 3rd reading and 68 bills through second reading,” Mr Saraki said.
“This is a record-setting feat, which has never been matched in the history of the National Assembly. That within a period of four months in the middle of the term of any past National Assembly, 49 bills are passed in a single quarter.
“I want to especially thank all the committees who worked tirelessly to help us achieve this milestone. Let me also thank President Muhammadu Buhari for showing faith with the work we are doing here at the National Assembly as he has by today signed into law 16 of the bills we have passed into law already,” he said.
He condemned the recent crisis and killings in Southern Kaduna and said that the Senate would carry out a thorough investigation to unravel the issues and advise the executive appropriately.
The Senate President further said, “While we have our attention on the economy and are working with sweat on our brows to improve it for the betterment of our people, we cannot lose sight of the callous and growing circle of violence across the country, especially now in Southern Kaduna.
“We condemn in totality the depravity being exhibited on the streets of Kafanchan. This Senate will not pay lip service to it neither will it sit idly by and watch innocent Nigerians being slaughtered on the basis of their religion, ethnic group or political persuasion.
“No, we will not stand aloof. Let me, therefore; use this opportunity to call on the leadership in the state to use its authority and constitutional mandate to bring to an immediate halt the growing orgy of violence that has enveloped Southern Kaduna.
“This new theatre of conflict is one too many and must be nipped in the bud. Thankfully, a motion to this effect is already before us. We will ensure a thorough investigation is carried out to unravel the issues and advice government appropriately on the matter in order to ensure that all those found culpable are severely dealt with irrespective of who may be behind them.
“This will ensure there is no repeat of this madness and assure the people of Kaduna that injustice and impunity will not be allowed to triumph over our collective will to maintain our national unity and coherence,” he said.
He reiterated the importance of the 2017 budget in helping the economy to exit recession and urged his colleagues to double up efforts to get the passed budget to the executive for implementation within the shortest possible time.
“There is hardly a point reiterating the importance of making the 2017 budget the most successful budget we have ever passed, neither is it important to emphasize the need to have this budget back on the desk of the executive on time for implementation,” he said.
“As you may be aware, based on the recommendations of the Budget Reform Committee, we are working towards ensuring that budgets are prepared and submitted timely so that implementation will follow a regular fiscal circle.
“In this regard, the National Assembly will not tolerate agencies of government not submitting their budgets within the budget period. This is why I urge all agencies yet to submit their budgets to do so quickly as budgets not received within time may have to wait for the next budget circle,” he said.
He emphasised the need for the National Assembly to pursue and conclude the ongoing constitutional review process by the end of March and said “We must do this to ensure that our people begin to enjoy the benefits of the intended reforms which will help strengthen our unity, increase our prosperity and opportunity as we as expand our liberty and happiness across the country.”
He said the Senate would henceforth not spare any organization that trample on the rights of consumers in the country by paying keen attention to the “protection and preservation of consumer rights” adding that the “current situation where consumers’ rights are violated and treated with indignity must stop.”
“We are prepared to defend the rights of Nigerians to receive a superior quality of product or service purchased with their hard-earned resources,” Saraki said. “We will not stand for the exploitation of consumers and we have already shown that we are unafraid to tackle such an issue whether perpetrated by public or private sector service providers;
“As was the case of the intended data tariff hike proposed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which we moved swiftly to prevent. We want people to know that they can run to us and we will in turn rise in defence of the Nigerian consumer who should be respected as a driving force in the economy,” he said.
On the power sector, Mr Saraki said, “Before we left for the break, me, a select few of us and stakeholders in the power sector met to get an understanding of why no progress has been made thus far despite the best intention; and the revelations were mind-boggling.
“There had been errors in the privatization process and the model by which the power sector is being operated—whether at generation or distribution—will never take us where we need to be.
“It has failed and nobody appears willing to tackle the issue head-on towards a permanent resolution. I have mandated the Senate Committee on Power to continue the consultation with the relevant parties to forge a path to solving our crippling power deficit. After all, if we are going to drive Nigerian industry, we need to resolve this and fast,” he said.
He lamented that the issue of policy inconsistencies continues to challenge the nation’s business environment and reiterated his view that “for a private sector-led economy to thrive, we need to reform our policy environment to give investors and our businessmen and women ample adjustment time to make informed investment decisions rather than have uncertainties.”
According to him, “This is especially important in the agriculture and solid mineral sectors where we have significant economies of scale and opportunities for diversification of our economy. In view of this we shall, in consultation with stakeholders across the board be looking at legislative measures that could increase the potential for a more stable policy environment starting with the agricultural businesses and solid mineral resources sectors of our economy,” he said.
He also called on the executive to commence an open and meaningful dialogue with the Niger Delta militants in order to stabilize the petroleum industry and take advantage of rising crude prices in the international community to turn around the fortunes of the nation’s economy.
“The Petroleum Industry continues to be critical to the health of our economy. This is why the Senate is urging the Executive to take positive steps to begin an open and meaningful dialogue with those aggrieved in the Niger Delta to proffer lasting solutions that will help us take advantage of the emerging international oil market outlook to revamp our economic fortunes.
“The proposed engagement we suggest must be sincere, constructive, open, and confidence building. This Senate is willing to assist and play whatever role necessary to facilitate a successful agreement that would help us see to the end if the lingering conflict,” Mr Saraki said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The planned implementation of the new tax laws from Thursday, January 1, 2026, will not be reversed, the federal government has emphasised.
This emphasis was made amid controversies over discrepancies in the harmonised and gazetted copies of the laws.
A lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Mr Abdussamad Dasuki, raised this alarm last week during plenary.
He said parts of the laws passed by the National Assembly were different from the gazetted, calling on the leadership to look into this.
In June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed the four tax-related bills in law as part of his government’s reform programme
The new tax laws are the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act.
Addressing newsmen after a meeting with Mr Tinubu in Lagos on Friday, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, stressed there were no plans to suspend the implementation of the laws from next Thursday, despite calls for this.
However, he welcomed the decision of the House of Representatives to investigate the matter, stressing that the federal government is ready to work with the National Assembly if any action becomes necessary, but maintained that the reform timeline remains unchanged.
Mr Oyedele explained that the reforms are aimed at providing relief to Nigerians and stimulating economic growth rather than generating immediate revenue, noting about 98 per cent of workers would either pay no personal income tax or pay less, while 97 per cent of small businesses would be exempted from corporate income tax and VAT withholding tax.
He added that large businesses would also benefit from lower effective tax rates, noting that the reforms are designed to promote inclusivity, shared prosperity and improved tax compliance.
The tax expert said preparations for the reforms began in October 2024 when the bills were first submitted to the National Assembly and have continued through capacity building, system upgrades and stakeholder sensitisation since the laws were signed in June 2025.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The oil market depreciated by more than 2 per cent on Friday as investors weighed a looming global supply glut, while also keeping an eye on a potential Ukraine peace deal.
Brent crude futures lost $1.60 or 2.57 per cent to trade at $60.64 per barrel and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures crumbled by $1.61 or 2.76 per cent to $56.74 a barrel.
The global oil supply next year will exceed demand by 3.84 million barrels per day, according to figures from the International Energy Administration (IEA) in its December oil market report.
Supply rose sharply this year boosted by output hikes from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) as well as growth in the United States and other producers. The group also paused output increases for the first quarter of 2026.
Meanwhile, OPEC kept its global demand growth forecast for year next unchanged in its monthly report, with its data indicating that world oil supply will match demand closely in 2026, in contrast to the IEA’s view.
While supply disruptions have helped oil prices rebound in recent sessions from their near five-year low, they are on track for their steepest annual decline since 2020. Brent and WTI are down 19 per cent and 21 per cent respectively on the year, as rising crude output caused concerns of an oil glut heading into next year.
Investors are watching for developments in the Russia-Ukraine peace process ahead of talks this weekend between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and US President Donald Trump.
They will be focusing on the possible impact on future oil prices as a peace agreement could lead to the removal of international sanctions against Russia’s oil sector.
The Ukrainian president has said he would be willing to call a referendum on an agreed peace framework if Russia agrees to a ceasefire.
In Venezuela, the White House ordered the US military forces to focus on a “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, indicating the Trump administration is currently more interested in using economic rather than military means to pressure the South American OPEC member.
During the week, the American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated that crude oil inventories in the United States saw a build of 2.4 million barrels in the week ending December 19. Crude oil inventories data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) will be released next week due to the Christmas holidays.
Finance may be the single most essential element when it comes to the progress and sustainability of businesses in Nigeria. The level of funding available to businesses, small and big, determines their ability to function, grow, and compete. The Nigerian business environment, due to the interplay between the local economy, financial institutions, government, and private investors, offers multiple financing opportunities. The dynamics of these financing opportunities helps business owners and managers make the right decisions that best respond to their objectives and the level of risk they are willing to take.
Start your Livescorebet registration and discover more as this article analyzes the different sources of business finance in Nigeria in a systematic and detailed manner. It defines and explains internal and external financing options and the criteria relevant businesses may use in their search for the best financing instrument.
Understanding Sources of Business Finance
Before one can delve into the different options of business financing available, it is important to define business finances and categorize it. The objective of this is to establish a foundation for understanding the extent to which some options may be more appropriate for different businesses than others.
What Are Sources of Finance?
Sources of finance are how a business acquires funds to begin activities, settle daily operations, or pay for additional business activities like acquisitions, expansions, and long-term projects. Businesses may need to finance the purchase of new equipment, hire and pay additional staff, manage business cash flow, develop new products, or finance the expenses required to enter or compete in new markets.
In Nigeria, the Sources of finance are determined by interest rates, availability of bank services, regulations, and the growth stage of capital markets, among other things. A business may use its own cash resources, borrow from a financial institution, receive funds from an investor, or receive a government grant or other government-funded assistance program. Each of these also offers different-related costs, obligations, and levels of control.
Types of Finance: Major Categories
Business finance is typically subdivided into two larger subsets: internal finance, and external finance. Internal finance is from the business and its resources; external finance is from third parties.
The classification of finance by time is also an option. Short-term finance is used for the working capital needs like inventory and operational expenses. Medium-term finance is used for the purchase of an asset like a machine. Long-term finance is used for significant investments like expansion or infrastructure. These classifications often overlap with internal and external sources and help a business structure their financing efficiently.
Key Principles and Examples
Cost is the most influential principle when it comes to the choice and method of utilizing finance. Aspects like interest and dividends affect profitability. Additionally, other opportunity costs must also be focused on. Another principle is risk. Increased borrowing equates to an increase in financial obligations. Control and flexibility are also essential, especially in terms of the original decision makers.
For instance, a small retail shop could potentially rely on the profits previously obtained to purchase stock and restock their shelf. On the other hand, a manufacturing business may need to obtain a bank loan in addition to leasing an arrangement in order to get the needed equipment. These principles must be understood so that finance can be used to support the objectives of the company.
Internal Sources of Business Finance
Internal sources of finance are the finance obtained within a business without the need of external lenders or investors. These sources are often preferred as with them, the business relies a minimal amount on external parties to minimize financial risk.
Retained Earnings
Profits that a company reinvests rather than giving out to owners or stockholders is called retained earnings. Within Nigeria, retained earnings is a common type of financing for SMEs that do not have access to external funding.
This type of financing is cost effective as it does not incur interest or have repayment schedules. Retained earnings financing ensures owners have complete operational control. However, retained earnings depend on profitability, meaning they can be limited or unavailable for new businesses or those that are struggling. Overreliance on retained earnings can also slow expansion if significant capital is needed for growth.
Ordinary (Equity) Shares
For incorporated businesses, it is understood that issuing ordinary shares is considered an internal source if funding is collected from existing owners/shareholders. When an owner nets additional funding, they are strengthening the business’ finances without taking on additional debt.
Equity shares do not have to be paid back, relieving some pressure from cash outflows. This does mean that ownership and profit rights, in the form of dividends, will be repealed. Equity financing in Nigeria is more prevalent in larger businesses and startups with growth potential, especially those that are preparing for future investment rounds or new public listings.
Other Internal Sources
The other internal sources include the streamlining of cash flows, the sale of unused assets, and the reduction of working capital. For instance, a business might dispose of old vehicles or equipment to obtain cash for more productive investments. Likewise, enhanced control of inventories and the speedy collection of receivables can liberate cash for other operational uses.
The techniques described here are often undervalued, especially since they provide short-term relief without incurring external liabilities. Nevertheless, the main limitation of these techniques is scale. They are unlikely to provide the necessary funds to sustain larger projects.
External Sources of Business Finance
External sources imply sourcing funds from outside the business. These sources are particularly necessary for new ventures and rapidly expanding businesses as well as for capital intensive industries.
Bank Lending
Bank lending is, and continues to be, a major source of business finance in Nigeria. Commercial banks, microfinance banks, and development finance institutions all grant businesses loans, overdrafts, and other credit facilities.
Bank loans are easier to obtain and can provide in a short time big amounts of money, making them more attractive for funding major business expansions and for acquisition of new assets. However, such loans are usually associated with a range of challenges such as high-interest rates and demands for strict repayment periods and collateral. Many Nigerian SMEs do not easily gain access to such bank credit due to their limited credit history and insufficient collateral.
Loan Stock
Loan stock is a long-term debt financial instrument provided by companies to obtain funding from customers and pays a fixed interest and is repaid after a determined time. In Nigeria debt stock is more prevalent with large established companies.
A loan stock has the benefit of providing long-term financing without losing partial company control. But the financial risk of the company rising during poor economic times increases, as loan interest rates must always be paid.
Venture Capital
Venture capital, funds provided by the investors of a business with the potential of high growth, is in exchange for equity. Venture capital in Nigeria is more common in technology, fintech, and agri-business.
Venture capitalists do not just provide funding; they also provide their experience in the field, their connections, as well as their planning and do-adding-knowledge, making it highly beneficial for new companies. However, these investors more often than not expect the high amounts of profit; therefore, a greater stake of their ownership of the valuable business is lost.
Leasing and Hire Purchase
Hire purchase and leasing, in asset financing, provide the means for firms to use equipment without the need to make the full payment for the equipment up front. Leasing allows the renting of a fixed-term asset, while hire purchase enables the attainment of the full ownership of the asset after making a series of payment installments.
These techniques are common in Nigeria for acquiring college textbooks, vehicles, office technology, etc. These techniques allow one to maintain positive cash flow, while avoiding large capital expenses. The main disadvantage is the total expenditure is higher than buying the item outright.
Government Assistance and Grants
The government of Nigeria, through its various agencies, has a wide range of funding programs aimed at supporting businesses, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, which come in the form of grants, subsidised loans, and intervention funds.
When it comes to government assistance, there are lower interest rates for longer periods of time, more flexibility for the beneficiary. However, the availability of such assistance is often restricted, which is often accompanied by complex application procedures and lengthy delays. At the end of the day, although there is a lack of availability, government funding is still a major contributor to the country’s entrepreneurship base development and the economy’s overall growth.
Franchising
From a financing standpoint, franchising is a business model where an entrepreneur receives the right to operate a business under a specified brand for a fee or royalty. While it is not a direct cash resource, the model helps startup a business with lower risk and reduces the financing needed as it comes with brand recognition and an established business system.
In Nigeria, franchising is an approach that is widely adopted, particularly in the food services and hospitality industries. It is especially helpful to startups, as they do not need to build a business model from scratch, and if they need it, the franchising becomes a solid base for acquiring additional funds.
How to Choose the Right Source of Finance
How to choose the right Source of Finance will need balancing what the business needs, how much money is available, and the other goals they want to accomplish over time, since finance refers to how a business entity plans to raise funds from various sources of finance to support business operations and long-term business development.
Step-by-Step Approach to Choosing a Source of Finance
The first thing to do is say what the finance will go towards. Will it be designed to go towards working capital, purchasing raw materials, buying new assets like a new factory, or is it going to be used for expanding into new markets and securing capital for growth? After that, the company decides how much money it will need and how long it will need it for. This helps clarify whether the required sources of funds fall under short-term sources, often needed within one year, or long-term sources used to finance strategic investments.
The 3rd thing to do is to look at the advantages and disadvantages of each funding option, including risks and costs. Some of these will be interest payments, specific repayment terms, and whether financing involves debt or equity financing, which may dilute ownership or preserve the owner’s control. The business must assess if it will rely on borrowed funds, a secured loan, or equity capital, and whether it can manage repayment with interest, including principal and interest, without risking default or bankruptcy. In the end, the business should look at what it will be able to do and whether it should mix together a few main sources from various sources of finance to meet different business needs.
Factors Affecting the Need for Finance
There is a range of different reasons, that can affect the decisions that are made. Things like how big the business and what point in its lifecycle it’s at, which sector it’s in, and how stable its cash flow is. A new business is likely to need finance in the form of equity and government programs while an older company will likely go for a bank loan or use the money that is already in the company.
The economic climate will also have an influence on the cost and availability of finance in a certain country. Things like inflation and interest rates can make it more difficult to get finance in a certain country. Also the absence of certain regulations and the rules that have to be followed will affect what kind of external finance can be used or what type of external finance will be available.
Comparing Major Sources at a Glance
Internal sources lack scale but are less risky and cheaper. External sources are costly and more risky but can provide larger amounts. Equity financing is less risky in terms of repayments but ownership is diluted, while in debt financing, control is maintained but the risk is higher. Businesses need to understand these trade-offs to incorporate financing into their business strategy.
Conclusion
There are several sources of business finance in Nigeria, and these continue diversifying with the progress of the economy and the financial sector. Each of these sources, from internal such as retained earnings, to external like bank lending, government programs, and venture capital, are tailored to address specific business requirements.
This understanding enables entrepreneurs, managers to make accurate and timely decisions, mitigate risks, and facilitate growth. The optimal level of financing is more than a simple matter of availability as is often the case with entrepreneurs, but ensuring the financial architecture of the business is coherent with its objectives in the long term.
FAQs
What is the difference between internal and external sources of finance?
Internal sources are from the business itself like retained earnings and selling of assets, while external sources are from outside the business like banks, investors and government programs. Internal finance poses less risk, but external finance allows access to much larger funds.
How can startups access venture capital in Nigeria?
Accessing venture capital entails constructing sound business models, designing robust business plans, and then forming relationships with investors through incubators, accelerators, and other platforms. A clear organizational structure and the ability to catalyze substantial interest are invaluable.
What are the advantages of retained earnings as a source of finance?
The cost of retained earnings as a source of finance is low, as money does not need to be repaid. Furthermore, the business owner does not need to share control over the company. Retained earnings are also complementary to the financial position of the business. On the downside, retained earnings can only be used if a business is profitable, and may restrict growth if insufficient profits are generated.
How does leasing differ from hire purchase?
When leasing, a company can use an asset for a specified period of time, but ownership stays with the original owner. In hire purchase agreements, a business can use an asset for a specified time but takes ownership after making the required payment. A leasing agreement is flexible but hire purchase agreements are better for a purchase where an ownership is intended.
What government programs are available for business funding in Nigeria?
The Nigerian government, through its development finance institutions and government agencies, provides a wide range of activities, including lending to small and medium enterprises, offering intervention funds, as well as providing grants. These activities aim to support entrepreneurial activities, stimulate job creation, and develop specific sectors.
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