Ahmed Commends NGX on Capital Market Development

Goddy Egene

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has commended the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited for its efforts in ensuring that the Nigerian capital market is deepened to play a major role in the growth of the nation’s economy.

Ahmed gave the commendation during a courtesy visit of the management of the NGX, led by its chief executive officer (CEO), Mr. Temi Popoola in Abuja.

While acknowledging the commitment of NGX’s management, which culminated in the demutualisation of the exchange, minister urged the management to leverage technology and innovations which could ease the processes of trading on the exchange.

She also called on the exchange to ensure that ordinary citizens participate actively in the capital market.

She said the federal government had directed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to organise a saving policy and programme that would encourage citizens to participate actively in the capital market as a means of unlocking the potential.

The minister also disclosed that the ministry was working on the Finance Bill 2021 and would address hindering investments such as Company Income Tax (CIT), among others.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Aliyu Ahmed, urged Popoola and his team to scale up the operations of the NGX for the benefits of investors and the market.

Earlier in his speech, Popoola noted that the aim of the visit was to introduce the NGX’s new management to the minister and also to appreciate the ministry for its support to the Nigerian capital market.

He assured the minister that the exchange would continue to give its support in making Nigeria a destination for foreign investment and to support the ministry’s fiscal policy while expressing willingness to serve on the committee of the Finance Bill 2021.

He, however, called for a reduction in CIT, from 25 per cent to 20 per cent, among others, stressing that it would ultimately attract more taxes to government.