E-Financial
Confusion over Whereabouts N20 Trillion Raked in as Stamp Duty

Uba Sani, chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, has said that the over raked in as stamp duty is not with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as at December 2019.
Sani, said only about N41 billion had been deposited by banks into the Stamp Duty Collection Account.
“With all things considered, my committee believes that the sum remitted by banks to the Stamp Duty Collection Account with the CBN, from inception in January 2016, would well be around N41 billion as of October 2019,” he said.
The senator explained that his committee was investigating the matter and cautioned against inflammatory and potentially damaging comments on it.
He also said his committee had received petitions on the allegation against the CBN and had, in the past six months, been meticulously investigating the matter.
Sani added that what the committee had uncovered so far was not what some petitioners wanted Nigerians to believe.
He urged members of the public, especially critical stakeholders, not to be in a hurry to conclude that the CBN has actually erred.
The senator, who represents Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, said since he and other members of the committee were sworn in, the issue of alleged non-remittance of Stamp Duty by the CBN had been on the front burner and receiving appropriate attention at the committee level.
He explained that beyond the several depositions by the CBN, the committee had obtained records of other agencies of the Federal Government investigating or familiar with the matter.
Sani said: “It is much more complicated than what most Nigerians know. However, what I can say for now is that from what we have been able to sieve out from documents available to us as well as the depositions we have taken, it is clear that so many forces are confusing Nigerians on this issue.
“With the evidence contained in the plethora of documents the CBN has supplied to my committee, it can easily be deduced that the total Stamp Duty unremitted cannot be over N20 trillion, as being alleged.
“For one, from records available to us, the total deposit in the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in Nigeria as of 2016 was only about N18 trillion. So, how then can Stamp Duties alone be N21 trillion, as being claimed by some petitioners?” Sani queried.
The senator noted that from records available to his committee, Stamp Duty collection started in January 2016 when the CBN issued a circular directing Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to commence imposition of stamp Duty collection and that from the records the CBN and other agencies of the Federal Government have supplied to the Senate Committee, it was glaring that the total number of transactions, including transactions excluded from stamp duty charge, from 2016 to November 2017 is about N518,043,467.
“If you do the simple arithmetic, the stamp duty on these transactions would have amounted to about N25.902 billion. Don’t also forget that Savings Accounts are exempted from payment of stamp duty by law, and they account for about 75 per cent of all bank accounts.
“With all things considered, my committee believes that the sum remitted by banks to the Stamp Duty Collection Account with the CBN from inception in January 2016 would well be around N41 billion as of October 2019. “But like I said, investigations are still ongoing. Rest assured that our conclusive findings would be made available to the public. Nigerians deserve to know the whole truth,” Sani said.
E-Financial
Sterling Bank Pledges ₦2bn to Fully Fund University Scholarships

Sterling Bank has launched a ₦2 billion scholarship initiative to support Nigerian students in private universities. The program, Beyond Education, was unveiled on Democracy Day and aims to remove financial barriers to higher learning.
The bank will fully sponsor 600 students from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT to study Technology, Finance, Sales, and Public Health at Miva University, founded by Sim Shagaya. The selection process is merit-based, with candidates nominated by themselves or others, and final selection determined through public voting open to Sterling account holders.
Sterling Bank’s CEO, Abubakar Suleiman, described the initiative as an investment in Nigeria’s future, aligning with the bank’s commitment to Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. The bank has already deployed over half a trillion naira in financing across these sectors.
According to Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive at Sterling Bank, the program is about creating opportunities beyond education. The bank is shifting from short-term philanthropy to long-term ecosystem development, with investments in digitized healthcare, school financing, agricultural cooperatives, solar energy, and transport systems.
“Nigeria’s progress requires action,” Suleiman said. “We are funding the future architects of the country—those who will build the businesses, institutions, and innovations needed for national prosperity.”
Nominations for the Beyond Education scholarships are now open at www.sterling.ng/FUTURE. The initiative sets a precedent for private-sector-driven education investment, where success is measured not just in profit, but in people empowered.
E-Financial
FG to Train 100,000 Youths Annually in Forex Trading and Financial Skills

Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Investonaire Academy to train 100,000 young Nigerians annually in forex trading, financial planning, and risk management.
The agreement, signed in Abuja, was announced by Omolara Esan, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. According to her, the initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce youth unemployment and enhance financial inclusion.
At the signing ceremony, Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the partnership as a milestone in the ministry’s efforts to equip young Nigerians with practical financial skills. He emphasized that the programme would foster critical thinking, improve digital literacy, and expand access to global economic opportunities.
Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Enefola Odiba, International Programme Director at Investonaire Academy, highlighted the importance of empowering youth with relevant financial and digital skills. He described young people as essential drivers of innovation and national development.
The ministry assured that the programme would be implemented with transparency and measurable outcomes, ensuring that participants gain practical expertise in forex trading and financial planning.
The Federal Government has recently intensified efforts to boost skill development across various sectors. A separate plan aims to train 100,000 artisans nationwide, following the successful upskilling of 29,000 individuals in previous phases. This initiative seeks to professionalize vocational trades, eliminate quackery, and introduce licensing systems.
Additionally, technicians from specialized institutions will receive industry-standard training to strengthen Nigeria’s labor force and increase self-reliance in skilled professions.
Through these efforts, the government hopes to position Nigerian youth for economic success both locally and globally.
E-Financial
NDIC Begins Final Settlements to Creditors of Liquidated Premier Bank

Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has begun the final phase of liquidation for the defunct Premier Commercial Bank, initiating the payment of liquidation dividends to verified creditors, nearly 25 years after the bank’s closure.
Premier Commercial Bank had its operating license revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on December 20, 2000, following findings of financial instability and regulatory non-compliance.
Since then, the NDIC has overseen the bank’s liquidation process under a winding-up order from the Federal High Court, which designated the corporation as the official liquidator.
In a public announcement, the NDIC invited all eligible creditors to visit any of its zonal offices between June 2 and June 27, 2025, to verify and claim their entitlements.
This move marks a critical milestone in the final settlement of claims related to the bank’s collapse.
To facilitate the verification process, creditors are required to present proof of deposit or shareholding, such as a passbook, chequebook, term deposit certificate, or bank statement.
Additionally, valid identification documents must be submitted, including a driver’s license, international passport, national identity card, NIN slip/card, voter’s card, or a formal identification letter from a traditional ruler or local government chairman.
The NDIC assured the public that the ongoing settlement is part of a broader effort to bring closure to longstanding claims resulting from Premier Commercial Bank’s liquidation. The process, according to the corporation, has been designed to ensure efficient disbursement to all verified stakeholders.
Premier Commercial Bank is one of 53 deposit money banks whose licenses were revoked by the CBN between 1994 and 2018 due to various violations and signs of financial distress.
These closures were followed by legal procedures appointing the NDIC to manage asset recoveries and creditor settlements.
By initiating this final phase of payment, the NDIC is reaffirming its commitment to financial system stability and depositor protection while calling on all affected individuals and institutions to complete verification processes promptly to receive their due compensation.
- General News1 day ago
AfDB to Provide $184.1mfor Africa’s Largest Solar Energy, Battery Storage Project
- Telecom2 days ago
ngCERT Issues High Alert to Nigerians Using Android Phones
- Telecom2 days ago
MTN and Ecobank Launch Chess Championship to Empower Nigeria’s Youth
- General News2 days ago
OSGOF, NASRDA Partner to Boost Geospatial Data, Others
- E-Business2 days ago
African Startups Raised $345m in Funding in May
- News1 day ago
Report Reveals New Malware Posing as an AI Assistant Steals User Data
- Telecom1 day ago
MTN Mulls Establishment of Fintech Firm in Nigeria, Others
- News2 days ago
Nigeria Police Dismantle WhatsApp Scam Syndicate, Freeze Millions