As part of efforts towards deepening communication with its customers, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) held its Quarterly Customers’ Forum in Lagos.
The Forum is a periodic event intended to bring together Management of the Commission, Stakeholders and members of the public to interact on issues pertaining to the services of the Commission.
In her opening address, the Acting Registrar-General, Lady Azuka Azinge informed the stakeholders and participants of the Commission’s reform initiatives which were aimed at making business registration simple, fast and cheaper. She added that the Forum was an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to have a one -on- one interaction with top Management of the Commission.
She noted that the current administration’s agenda to ease doing business had galvanized the Commission to further improve on its registration and regulation services to teeming business men and women in Nigeria. She applauded the working relationship between Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) the Ease of Doing Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) and the Commission as well as other critical Agencies involved in the doing business matrix.
She stated that their efforts had significantly contributed to the improved ranking of Nigeria in the global doing business index.
Lady Azinge disclosed that the post registration services were now partially automated, to enable State Offices fast track the processing of post registration applications. She added that plans were at advanced stage to make post-incorporation services available online 24/7.
To further ease business registration she disclosed that Commission recently dispensed with proficiency requirement for the registration of all forms of businesses. Under the new arrangement, members of the public do not have to submit proficiency certificate to the Commission for registration of Companies, Business Names and Incorporated Trustees.
The Ag. Registrar-General stated that the Commission had strengthened the Help Desk Unit, to promptly and effectively attend to enquiries and resolve complaints arising from all the Commission’s services through telephone calls and emails. The telephone lines are 08182299016, 08182298971, 09087401598, 09087401599 and 09087401600. The email address is: cservice@cac.gov.ng.
She assured that the Commission was committed to reviewing its processes regularly. In that regard, she disclosed that work was at advanced stage to amend its enabling Law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) in collaboration with the National Assembly. According to her the amendment was aimed at enhancing the Commission’s supervisory and regulatory powers.
She revealed that the CAMA Amendment Bill had been passed by the Senate in July, 2018 and was before the House of Representatives for passage, after which it will be assented to by the President.
She stressed that one of the major thrust of the present Administration was to revamp the Nigerian economy through support to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) whose activities contribute in no small measure to the development of the economy. She stated that as part of the Commission’s contribution to the development of MSMEs, the Commission recently launched the Business Incentive Strategy (BIS) to encourage small businesses formalize their business by registering same with the Commission.
Lady Azinge revealed that in view of the benefits of the BIS coupled with the demand for extension by stakeholders it became imperative for the Commission to further extend the period by another three months (1st January-31st March, 2019) to enable more MSMEs formalize their businesses.
Consequently, following the Commission’s request for extension, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment graciously approved a further three months extension of the BIS for registration of MSMEs from 1st January to March, 2019.
She enjoined members of the public to take advantage of the extension to register their Business Names at the reduced cost of N5,000.
She disclosed that the Forum will be held in the commercial city of Kano on Thursday, 17th January, 2019 at Hotel Tropicana by 11.00 am prompt. Stakeholders from both the public and private sectors including the NBA, ICSAN, NACCIMA, ICAN, ANAN, NASME, FIRS, SMEDAN, NASSI, fully participated in the One Day event.
