Business

CBN limits bank executives’ tenure to 24 years

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2023

CBN limits bank executives’ tenure to 24 years

Effective August 1, 2023, bank executives will no longer spend more than 24 years in office, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

The top positions include Executive Directors, Deputy Managing Directors (DMD), and Managing Directors (MDs) of banks and bank holding companies.

The Director, Financial Policy and Regulation department of the apex bank, Chibuzo Efobi, signed the new regulation released in Abuja yesterday.

The circular, with the reference number, ‘FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/001/078,’ said the circular was in accordance with powers conferred by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007 and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), hereby issues the Corporate Governance Guidelines for Commercial, Merchant, Non-Interest, and Payment Services Banks in Nigeria; and the Corporate Governance Guidelines for Financial Holding Companies in Nigeria,” the circular stated in part.

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It explained that in developing the guidelines, the CBN adapted relevant principles and recommended practices of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance issued by the Financial Reporting Council in 2018, global corporate governance practices as well as other related governance codes, circulars and directives made by the CBN.

It called the attention of banks and financial holding companies to note the responsibilities imposed on their boards by these guidelines, and especially on the Executive Compliance Officers (where applicable).

The CBN stressed that the new guidelines supersede all previous codes, circulars and related directives on corporate governance issued by the CBN.

The CBN was quick to note that the circular is subject to a cumulative tenure limit of 24 years, which was covered in Section 8 of the Guidelines.

Section 8 states that the cumulative tenure limit of directors (ED, DMD, MD, and NEDs) on the Board of the same bank is twenty-four (24) years.

The new circular also introduced two years cooling period for banks’ top brass, saying that upon expiration of a maximum tenure, executive directors must serve out a cooling-off two years before being eligible for appointment as non-executive directors in the same bank subject to applicable tenure limits.

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“An Executive (ED, DMD or MD/CEO), who exits from the Board of a bank either upon or before the expiration of his/her maximum tenure, shall serve out a cooling period of two (2) years before being eligible for appointment as a NED in the same bank, subject to applicable cumulative tenure limits.

Where an Executive (ED, DMD or MD/CEO) of a bank is appointed to the Board of its FHC in any role, a cooling-off period of two years shall apply,” it stated.

Under the new guidelines, Non-Executive Directors can serve for a maximum of 12 years, comprising three terms of four years each.

It added: “NEDS (with the exception of INEDs) of a bank shall serve for a maximum of twelve (12) years, comprising three terms of four years. To qualify as a NED in a bank, the proposed NED shall not be an employee of a financial institution except where the bank is promoted by that financial institution and the proposed NED is representing the interest of that financial institution. In the case of a commercial bank with a NIB window, at least one NED shall be knowledgeable and/or have experience in the field of Islamic finance or Islamic Commercial Jurisprudence.”

Related Topics:bank executives CBN Featured

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Business

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

Published

12 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting investors in Nigeria’s capital market by cracking down on fraudulent activities.

According to the Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, operators engaging in unscrupulous practices will face strict penalties as the Commission prioritizes safeguarding investor interests.

“So, clearly for us, it is getting people to understand that there is no hiding place anymore for anybody that has the intention to defraud Nigerians and to defraud anybody that is investing in this market,” Dr. Agama stated, emphasizing the Commission’s zero-tolerance policy.

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Dr. Agama highlighted that the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 serves as the framework for securities regulation in Nigeria, ensuring that market operators adhere to high ethical standards.

He emphasized the importance of the “fit and proper person’s test,” which requires operators to meet specific regulatory criteria to maintain their licenses.

“This is because the very ethics of regulating or registering a securities market operator is in the principle of the fit and proper person’s test,” he explained.

“What you have been seeing most recently by the revocation of licenses, the suspension of operators and our follow-up to operators that are not registered with the SEC is only a tip of the iceberg as to what we intend to do this year.”

Dr. Agama assured stakeholders that the SEC will leverage its regulatory powers under Nigerian law to deter fraudulent activities, noting, “We believe strongly that a protected investor is a powerful investor.”

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

Business

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Published

12 hours ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies extended their gains on Monday, buoyed by positive investor sentiment despite concerns over upcoming U.S. tariffs and key economic data releases later this week.

As of 7am WAT, Bitcoin rose 3.2% to $86,590, while Ethereum gained 2.3%, trading at $2,047.

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization increased by 2.94% in the past 24 hours, reaching $2.84 trillion.

Other notable performers included XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, which posted gains of 3%, 2%, and 3.8%, respectively. Chainlink, Avalanche, Hedera, and Stellar recorded growth ranging from 3% to 10%.

“Bitcoin is holding above $86,000, registering a 3% gain today. The key resistance level to watch is $86,700; a breakout could pave the way for $90,000,” said Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus.

Bitcoin’s market capitalization surged to $1.727 trillion, with dominance rising to 60.73%. Its 24-hour trading volume soared by 93% to $18.2 billion, while stablecoin transactions accounted for 94.74% of total crypto trading, reaching $57.58 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

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Solana Outperforms Peers Amid Positive Market Sentiment

Solana (SOL) emerged as a standout performer, surging over 7% in the past 24 hours to trade above $139.

The rally was fueled by reports suggesting that President Trump’s April 2 tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared, easing market concerns.

Weekend rumors indicated that the tariffs might include country exemptions and non-cumulative charges on metals, contributing to improved sentiment across global markets.

The Federal Reserve’s projections for two rate cuts this year further supported risk assets, with the central bank describing potential tariff-induced inflation as “transitory.”

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes expressed optimism about Bitcoin’s trajectory, stating, “The Fed’s policy orientation could help Bitcoin achieve $110k before it retests $76.5k.”

Solana’s momentum aligns with unprecedented acceptance rates. DeFiLlama reported that Solana’s total value locked (TVL) reached 54.87 million SOL, its highest level since June 2022. Ali Charts revealed that a record 11.09 million addresses now hold SOL, underscoring growing adoption.

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Railway

Lagos Govt to redesign Oshodi motor park for rail integration

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi

Lagos Govt to redesign Oshodi motor park for rail integration

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to redesign the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) to integrate the facility with the Red Line and Blue Line rail systems, advancing its Rail Mass Transit project.

This initiative aims to deliver seamless connectivity between the two key rail networks and enhance commuters’ experience in Lagos.

The disclosure was conveyed via a statement shared on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation on Saturday, highlighting the need to optimize the design and operations of the OTI to boost efficiency and align with global standards.

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To kickstart the process, the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Seun Osiyemi, held a meeting with stakeholders to assess the current state of the interchange and outline strategies for its improvement.

“The Ministry of Transportation sought to address the ongoing developments and challenges affecting the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) in preparedness for the integration of the Rail Mass transit system; Red Line rail project connecting the Blue Line.

“The Ministry recognized that a review of the OTI’s design and operations is essential for its optimization which led to the Honourable Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi meeting with relevant Stakeholders to discuss the current state of the OTI and identify viable solutions that would enhance its operational efficiency in alignment with global standards and Standard Operating Procedures,” the statement read in part.