Business

‘Allow NERC Perform Its Mandate Without Interference’

Published

9 years ago

February 15, 2017

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) says for privatisation of power to work effectively, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) must be allowed to perform its mandate without interference.
Mr Alex Okoh, the Head, Public Communications made this known in a statement in Abuja .
NERC is the body saddled with the responsibility of regulating the power sector.
He said that the Acting Director General, Dr Vincent Akpotaire, made the appeal at a two-day stakeholder’s interactive dialogue/workshop organised by the joint committees of the National Assembly on Power.
Akpotaire said that NERC must be allowed to fix tariffs in line with the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) without interference from any quarters.
He added that if the tariffs were considered high, the government could decide to mitigate the effects by taking up a percentage of the tariffs instead of outright cancellation.
He cautioned against the blame game in the power sector and appealed to the executive and legislative arms of government and other stakeholders to come together to find solutions to the sector’s challenges.
Akpotaire explained why the Federal Government was being asked to subsidise the Nigeria Electric Supply Industry (NESI).
“The loss levels at the point of privatisation of the power sector, that is the Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC &C) loss of Nigeria was about 50 per cent on the average.
“This could not be fully passed to consumers immediately, to avoid rate shock and consumer rebellion.’’
He also explained why the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gave a loan of N213 billion to the privatised power companies.
“The Multi-Year Tariff Order 2 (2012) that was put in place when investors took over on Nov. 1, 2013, had assumed AT & C loss level of 25 per cent.
“The agreements signed with the investors gave NERC and the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) one year to determine the true ATC and C loss levels which were subsequently found to be about 50 per cent on the average. “Based on the new ATC and C loss levels, a new tariff was issued by NERC with effect from February 2015, but the shortfall that accumulated because of the wrongly assumed ATC and C of 25 per cent from Nov. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2014 amounted to N213 billion.
“Consumers were liable to pay the N213 billion immediately, but the CBN intervention by way of a loan to the DISCOs, enabled NERC to spread the recovery of the money from the consumers over a 10 year period.’’
He also said that the core investors in the DISCOs were not investing heavily in line with the covenants they signed with the government.
This, he said was because the transaction structure compelled investors to raise money and pay for their 60 per cent equity in DISCOs using their own balance sheet.
He added that upon take over, the investors were expected to leverage on the acquired companies’ clean balance sheets to raise additional funds for investments.
“However, financial institutions have refused to lend money to the DISCOs until a cost reflective tariff is approved in line with the agreements and the CBN loan to the industry removed from the books of the DISCOs.’’
Akpotaire said that though the Federal Government owned 40 per cent of the DISCOs, it was not part of the management because it was not funding its shares on the boards.
He said that the performance agreement executed with investors had assigned operational risks to investors.
“The performance agreement provides that a core investor who fails to achieve agreed targets stands the risk of losing his/her equity at the payment of one dollar by the Federal Government.”
He also said that the BPE was on the boards of the power companies since 1988 when the Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation (TCPC), the agency BPE replaced,was established.
He added that BPE had always represented the Federal Government on the board of any company undergoing reform and privatisation.
“This is on the grounds that it makes it possible for the BPE to have access to all the information it requires to carry out its statutory duties of reform and privatisation.

Business

FIRS Clarifies New Tax Laws, Debunks Levy Misconceptions

Published

22 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Inland Revenue Service has said that Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws are designed to strengthen economic competitiveness, attract investments, and improve long-term fiscal stability.

The agency also clarified that the much-debated four per cent development levy on imported goods is not a new or additional tax burden, but a streamlined consolidation of several existing levies.

According a statement released Wednesday, one of the most misunderstood elements of the new tax framework is the four per cent development levy with the agency explaining that the levy replaces a range of fragmented charges — such as the Tertiary Education Tax, NITDA Levy, NASENI Levy and Police Trust Fund Levy — that businesses previously paid separately.

This consolidation, it said, reduces compliance costs, eliminates unpredictability and ends the era of multiple agency-driven levies. The law also exempts small businesses and non-resident companies, offering protection to firms most vulnerable to economic shocks.

Another major clarification relates to Free Trade Zones. Earlier commentary had suggested that the government was rolling back the incentives that have attracted export-oriented investors for decades. However, the reforms maintain the tax-exempt status of FTZ enterprises and introduce clearer guidelines to preserve the purpose of the zones.

“Under the new rules, FTZ companies can sell up to 25 per cent of their output into the domestic market without losing tax exemptions. A three-year transition period has also been provided to allow firms to adjust smoothly.

“Government officials say the reforms aim to curb abuses where companies used FTZ licences to evade domestic taxes while competing within the Nigerian market”, it said.

With the new measures, Nigeria aligns with global FTZ models in places like the UAE and Malaysia, where the zones function primarily as export hubs for logistics, manufacturing and technology.

The introduction of a 15 per cent minimum Effective Tax Rate for large multinational and domestic companies has also been met with public concern. But the FIRS notes that this policy aligns with a global tax agreement endorsed by over 140 countries under the OECD/G20 framework.

Without this adoption, Nigeria risked losing revenue to other countries through the “Top-Up Tax” mechanism, where the home country of a multinational collects the difference when a host country charges below 15 per cent. By localising the rule, Nigeria ensures that tax revenue from multinational operations remains within its borders.

Business

CBN Revises Cash Withdrawal Rules January 2026, Ends Special Authorisation

Published

23 hours ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised its cash withdrawal rules, discontinuing the special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly, with effect from January 2026.

In a circular released Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and signed by the Director, Financial Policy & Regulation Department, FIRS, Dr. Rita I. Sike, the apex bank explained that previous cash policies had been introduced over the years in response to evolving circumstances.

However, with time, the need has arisen to streamline these provisions to reflect present-day realities.

The statement said the new set of cash-related policies is designed to reduce the cost of cash management, strengthen security, and curb money laundering risks associated with the economy’s heavy reliance on physical currency.

“These policies, issued over the years in response to evolving circumstances in cash management, sought to reduce cash usage and encourage accelerated adoption of other payment options, particularly electronic payment channels.

“With the effluxion of time, the need has arisen to streamline the provisions of these policies to reflect present-day realities,”

“Effective January 1, 2026, individuals will be allowed to withdraw up to N500,000 weekly across all channels, while corporate entities will be limited to N5 million”, it said.

According to the statement, withdrawals above these thresholds would attract excess withdrawal fees of three percent for individuals and five percent for corporates, with the charges shared between the CBN and the financial institutions.

Daily withdrawals from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) would be capped at N100,000 per customer, subject to a maximum of N500,000 weekly stating that these transactions would count toward the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit.

The special authorisation previously permitting individuals to withdraw N5 million and corporates N10 million once monthly has been discontinued.

The CBN also confirmed that all currency denominations may now be loaded in ATMs, while the over-the-counter encashment limit for third-party cheques remains at N100,000. Such withdrawals will also form part of the weekly withdrawal limit.

Deposit Money Banks are required to submit monthly reports on cash withdrawals above the specified limits, as well as on cash deposits, to the relevant supervisory departments.

They must also create separate accounts to warehouse processing charges collected on excess withdrawals.

Exemptions and superseding provisions
Revenue-generating accounts of federal, state, and local governments, along with accounts of microfinance banks and primary mortgage banks with commercial and non-interest banks, are exempted from the new withdrawal limits and excess withdrawal fees.

However, exemptions previously granted to embassies, diplomatic missions, and aid-donor agencies have been withdrawn.

The CBN clarified that the circular is without prejudice to the provisions of certain earlier directives but supersedes others, as detailed in its appendices.

Business

Shippers Council Vows Commitment To Security At Nigerian Ports

Published

1 day ago

December 5, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC)has restated its commitment towards ensuring security at Nigerian seaports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Dr Pius Akuta, said this in Port Harcourt, while declaring open a one day workshop organized by the Nigerian Shippers Council in collaboration with the Nigerian police( Marin Division).

Theme for the workshop was ‘Facilitating Port Efficiency; The strategic Role of Maritime police “

Akuta who was represented by the Director, Regulatory Services, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mrs Margeret Ogbonnah, said the workshop was to seek areas of collaboration with security agencies at the Ports with a view to facilitating trade

Akuta said the theme of the workshop reflects the desire of the council and the Nigerian police to build capacity of police officers for better understanding and administration of their statutory roles in the Maritime environment.

He said Nigerian seaports has constantly been reputed as one of the Port with the longest cargo dwell in the world, adding,”This is so, because while it takes only six hours to clear a containerized cargo in Singapore Port, seven days in Lome Port, it takes an average of 21 days or more in Nigerian Ports” stressing that this situation which has affected the global perception index on Ease of Doing Business in Nigerian seaports must be addressed.

Akuta said NSC which is the economic regulator of the Ports has the responsibility of ensuring that efficiency is established in the Ports inorder to attract patronages.

“Pursuant to its regulatory mandate, the NSC has been collaborating with several agencies to ensure the facilitation of trade and ease of movement of cargo outside the Ports to avoid congestion”he said.

Also speaking the commissioner of police, Eastern Port Command, Port Harcourt, CP Tijani Fakai, said Maritime police has played some roles in facilitating Ports efficiency.

He listed some of the roles to include ensuring security and crime prevention at the Ports, checking of illegal fishing activities at the Ports, checking of human trafficking and drug smuggling and prevention of fire incident at the Ports.

Represented by ACP, Rufina Ukadike, the CP said police at the Ports have also helped in the decongestion and prevention of unauthorized Anchorage.

He commended the Nigerian Shippers Council for the workshop and assured of continuous collaboration.

Speaking on the dynamics of cargo handling, Deputy Controller of customs, Muhydeen Ayinla Ayoola, said the launching of electronic tracking system and dissolution of controller General Taskforce has helped to ensure efficiency at the Ports.

Ayoola who represented the custom Area Controller Port Harcourt 1 Area command, however raised concerned over rising national security threat , which according to him has affected efficiency at the Ports.

John Bibor