Lawmakers investigate N126bn unclaimed dividends in capital market

The House of Representatives has launched investigation into unclaimed share dividends in the capital market valued at over N126.03bn.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Babangida Ibrahim at the plenary on Wednesday, entitled, ‘Need to Investigate the Rising Value of Unclaimed Dividends, Unremitted Withholding Tax on Dividends and their Attendant Effects on the Nation’s Economy.’

Upon the adoption of the motion, the house unanimously mandated the Committee on Capital Market and Institutions to investigate the “rising value of unclaimed dividends and unremitted withholding tax on dividend and their attendant effects on the nation’s economy and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.”

Ibrahim while moving the motion noted that unclaimed dividends had continued to increase over the years, and by implication unremitted withholding tax on dividends in Nigeria also increased.

He said while the value of unclaimed dividends in 1999 was just N2.09bn, between 2002 and November 2016, the value rose from N5.1bn to N103.1bn.

READ ALSO: Why Nigerian govt insists on social media regulation – Shehu Sani

He added that almost three years after the 8th House’ intervention, the value of unclaimed dividends as of March 2019 stood at a whooping sum of N126.03bn.

Ibrahim said, “The House is aware of the mechanisms put in place to address the issue of rising value of unclaimed dividends such as adoption of electronic dividend payment method, dematerialisation of share certificates, acceptance of dividend warrants in both savings and current accounts, need for consolidation of accounts by the Central Securities Clearing System and Registrars, need to resuscitate publication of names of owners of unclaimed dividends by companies among others, have been applied with no significant positive outcome.

“The implications of large value of unclaimed dividends on the economic development of Nigeria to include, but not limited to, adverse investors’ confidence, decrease in availability of long-term capital for economic development and the likely volatility in the regulation of the capital market.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now