Business
USSD now to attract N6.98 flat rate, says CBN
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a new charge of N6.98 for customers using the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data process.
It said from Tuesday customers would pay a flat fee of N6.98 every time they use the service.
This was part of the agreements reached when banks and telecommunication operators met on Monday to discuss the N42bn debt owed mobile operators by banks.
A statement on Tuesday jointly signed by the CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, and Director, Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Ikechukwu Adinde, said, “We are pleased to announce that after comprehensive deliberations on the key issues, a resolution framework acceptable to all parties was agreed thus:
“Effective March 16, 2021, USSD services for financial transactions conducted at the DMBs (Deposit Money Banks) and all CBN-licensed institutions will be charged at a flat fee of N6.98 per transaction.
“This replaces the current per session billing structure, ensuring a much cheaper average cost for customers to enhance financial inclusion.
“This approach is transparent and will ensure the amount remains the same, regardless of the number of sessions per transaction.
“To promote transparency in its administration, the new USSD charges will be collected on behalf of MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) directly from customers’ bank accounts. Banks shall not impose additional charges on customers for us of the USSD channel.”
The Federal Government last week asked telecommunication operators to put on hold, their impending suspension of the USSD services over N42bn debt owed by banks.
Business
CBN raises commercial banks’ capital base to N500bn
CBN raises commercial banks’ capital base to N500bn
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has increased the minimum capital requirements for commercial, merchant and non-interest banks.
The CBN increased the capital base for commercial banks with international licences to N500 billion, while national and regional financial institutions’ capital bases were fixed at N200 billion and N50 billion, respectively.
This was announced in a statement on Thursday, noting that the increase was due to prevailing macroeconomic challenges and headwinds.
The statement signed by Haruna Mustafa, director, financial policy and regulation department at the CBN.
It said the upward review would enhance the banks’ resilience, solvency and capacity to continue to support the growth of the Nigerian economy.
Also, the CBN raised the merchant bank minimum capital requirement to N50 billion for national licence holders.
The financial regulator said the capital base for national and regional non-interest banks is N20 billion and N10 billion, respectively.
To meet the minimum capital requirements, the CBN advised banks to consider the injection of “fresh equity capital through private placements, rights issue and/or offer for subscription”.
The CBN also suggested merger and acquisition (M&A), as well as upgrade or downgrade of licences.
“The minimum capital specified above shall comprise paid-up capital and share premium only. For the avoidance of doubt, the new capital requirement shall not be based on shareholders’ funds,” it stated
Business
Tinubu orders creation of single-digit tax system
Tinubu orders creation of single-digit tax system
President Bola Tinubu has directed a creation of a single-digit tax system with a maximum of nine taxes for a company or an individual.
Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, disclosed this in Abuja while speaking with the management team of Guinness Nigeria who paid him a visit.
A statement on Wednesday by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman, quoted Adedeji as saying, “The President gave a directive that he wants a single-digit tax in the country, meaning that the maximum number of taxes we will have after the work of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms will be nine taxes.”
The statement added that the plan was aimed at having a conducive environment “created for businesses to flourish and grow the economy.”
Business
Naira gains further against dollar
Naira gains further against dollar
The Naira rose further in the official market on Tuesday, trading at N1,382.95 to the dollar.
According to data from the FMDQ’s official trading portal, the Naira rose by N25.09, or 1.78 percent, from the previous day’s rate of N1,408 versus the dollar.
On Tuesday, total turnover was $245.58 million, up from $222.15 million on Monday.
Meanwhile, at the Investor’s and Exporters (I&E) window, the Naira traded between N1,486 and N1,300 against the dollar.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had, earlier on Tuesday at its 294th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), raised Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 200 basis points from 22.75 per cent to 24.75 per cent.
CBN governor Yemi Cardoso said that was meant to tackle the nation’s rising inflation.
Naira gains further against dollar
(NAN)
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