NIGERIANS have expressed anger over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) plan to tamper with investors’ unclaimed dividends.
The reaction follows CBN’s disclosure that it might invest funds from unclaimed balances in Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) and other government securities.
This is according to the newly released “Guidelines on Management of Dormant Accounts, Unclaimed Balances, and Other Financial Assets in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria,” by the CBN.
According to the new guidelines, the CBN will create and manage a dedicated “Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund (UBTF) Pool Account” to warehouse unclaimed balances.
The guidelines also mandate that the principal and any accrued interest on the investments must be refunded to the beneficiaries within ten working days of receiving a request.
Some Nigerians have criticised the move by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
An X user, @AbiriOlubunmi, reacted to the development in a post, “They want to loot unclean funds in dormant accounts of dead and lost people.”
“I think APC and Tinubu government are trying to empty this country. Tinubu wants pensioners’ money, Tinubu wants Bank FX Profit and Tinubu wants dormant account money,” another X user @chidi_phil1983 wrote in response to the CBN’s new plan.
Meanwhile, the guideline document read: “CBN shall treat unclaimed balances (dormant accounts and financial assets) as follows:
- Open and maintain the ‘UBTF Pool Account’;
- Maintain records of the beneficiaries of the unclaimed balances warehoused in the (UBTF) Pool Account;
- Invest the funds in Nigerian treasury bills (NTBs) and other securities as may be approved by the ‘Unclaimed Balances Management Committee’.
- Refund the principal and interest (if any) on the invested funds to the beneficiaries not later than ten (10) working days from the date of receipt of the request.
- Where it is imperative to extend the timeline, a notice of extension shall be communicated to the requesting FI stating reasons for the extension.”
The CBN’s guidelines stipulate several key objectives, including identifying dormant accounts and unclaimed balances, reuniting them with their beneficial owners, and holding these funds in trust.
Eligible accounts and exemptions
The new guidelines define eligible accounts as those that have remained dormant for ten years or more.
These include various types of accounts such as current, savings, term deposits, domiciliary accounts, and prepaid card accounts.
Other financial assets eligible under these guidelines include proceeds from unclaimed financial instruments, unclaimed salaries, wages, and bonuses, among others.
However, the guidelines also list exemptions. Accounts subject to litigation, under investigation by regulatory authorities or law enforcement agencies, or encumbered accounts, such as those with liens or used as collateral, are excluded from these provisions.
More information on the new policy
The CBN is tasked with maintaining the UBTF Pool Account, overseeing the management committee, and ensuring compliance with the guidelines.
It is also responsible for publishing the list of owners of unclaimed balances and the procedures for reclaiming these funds on its website.
Also, the CBN is to publish an annual notice in three national daily newspapers inviting the public to check details of outstanding unclaimed balances in its custody.
Financial institutions are required to monitor inactive accounts, notify customers of inactivity, and protect these accounts from unauthorised usage.
They must also publish details of dormant accounts and transfer eligible unclaimed balances to the CBN’s UBTF Pool Account quarterly. Additionally, financial institutions must maintain records and publish notices regarding the process of reclaiming unclaimed balances.
The ICIR reports that unclaimed dividends are payments companies declare for their shareholders, which the latter has yet to claim.
In August this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosed that unclaimed dividends had risen to N190 billion, escalating concerns, particularly among shareholders who rightfully owned the money.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.