The Senate has called on the Bank of Industry(BOI) to increase the quantum of dividend it pays to the Federal Government after it was disclosed that the company paid N8.2 billion as dividends to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Ministry of Finance between 2014 and 2019.
Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) made the call at an investigative hearing on revenue remittances by MDAs and remittances of 1% stamp duty on all contracts.
He stated that the 7% – 10% used by the Board of Directors of the bank to determine dividend on the net profit of the bank is too low and the bank should look at increasing the percentage to 20% or more.
“While I want to commend BOI for running an efficient bank that is adding value to our industrial production as well as earning revenue for the Federal Government, I want to say that more money can be paid to the government in view of the financial constraints the country is facing at this point” he stated.
Senator Adeola requested the managing director of the bank, Mr. Olukayode Pitan to bring the matter before the Board of Directors as a plea from the Senate in its quest to reduce recurrent budget deficits and borrowing by government.
He stressed that in addition to a 2021 budget deficit of about N6 trillion, the country is equally looking for revenue for a supplementary budget to take care of procurement of COVID-19 vaccine as well as urgent funding to tackle insecurity ravaging the nation.
The senator however requested for a confirmation with treasury receipts that the dividend so far paid was credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) as it should for subsequent appropriation by the National Assembly.
Earlier Mr. Pitan had disclosed that in the period under consideration BOI has paid a dividend of N8.2 billion to CBN and Federal Ministry of Finance as shareholders in the bank as well as over N1 billion as 1% stamp duty to the Federal Inland Revenue Service over the same period.
