The deadline for businesses to file their annual filings was extended by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on Thursday from January 1 to April 1, 2024.According to a statement from CAC, the extension was required because of current issues with the Company Registration Portal (CRP) and out of consideration for the Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) industry.
The notice further stated that this is a follow-up to its previous announcement to the public on Thursday, November 2, 2023, that it will begin fully enforcing the penalties stipulated by the Companies and Allied Matters Acts 2020 and the Companies Registrations 2021 against Companies and each of their Directors or Officers for neglecting to file annual returns.
"The window provided by this extension is encouraged to be used by all entities registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Business Names, and Incorporated Trustees) to file their annual returns to date with the Commission," the CAC said.
"Please take note, the general public, that the striking-off proceedings initiated by the Commission prior to the publication of Thursday, November 2, 2023, are unaffected by this extension of time."
The commission notified the firms, directors, and officers that going forward, it will pursue undischarged penalties against the directors and executives of the struck-off companies.
The CAC invited the public to visit its website at www.cac.gov.ng or to contact the commission by email at cservice@cac.gov.ng, helpdesk@cac.gov.ng, or by phone at +234 708 062 9000 for additional information and inquiries.
In July, the commission also threatened to remove over 100,000 dormant businesses from its database due to noncompliance with its mandate.