NIGERIAN CODE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Flashcards
What body established the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018?
Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
Is the Chairman Board of Directors involved in the day to day running of the company?
NO!
The Chairman’s primary responsibility is to ensure the effective operation of the Board such that the Board works as a group towards achieving the Company’s strategic objectives.
he’s a NED.
SEC 3
Can the Chairman of BOD be a MD/CEO?
NO!
The positions of the Chairman of the Board and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Company should be separate such that no person can combine the two positions.**
To avoid over concentration of power which may rob the Board of the required checks and balances in the discharge of its duties
ARTICLE 5.1 for public companies
What is the duties of the MD/CEO?
- day-to-day management of the Company;
- agreeing an annual board plan with the board
- Ensuring the agenda for board meetings is set
- Ensuring the board meetings are properly conducted
- promoting and protecting the interests of the Company; and
- ensuring effective communication and relations with the company’s shareholders and other stakeholders
PRINCIPLE 4
Can a director hold multiple directorships?
Directors may hold concurrent directorships. They have a duty to disclose the positions held during the meeting and such disclosures should be taken into account.
PRINCIPLE 2.8.1 CCGPC
SECTION 307(1)
Directors should not be members of Boards of competing companies to avoid conflict of interest-PRINCIPLE 2.8.3
What are the duties of a Chairman?
- To oversee the activities of the directors
- presiding over meetings of the Board of Directors and general meetings of shareholders
- They prepare agenda for the BOD meeting
- ensuring that Board meetings are properly conducted
- They ensure that the BOD is effective and functions appropriately.
- Ensure that quorum is met through out the meeting.
- Powers to adjourn the meeting.
S 5.1 CCGPC
What should the membership of the board consist of?
Not less than 5-Principle 4.2 CCGPC
Executive, Non-Executive and Independent Non-Executive directors-it is desirable that most of the directors are non executive.
PRINCIPLE 4.3 of CCGPC
For public companies, how many times should the BOD meet?
To effectively perform its oversight function and monitor management’s performance, the board should meet quarterly.
Who are restricted from being a part of the Audit Remuneration and Governance Community?
The CEO/MD cannot be appointed as a part of the audit, remuneration and governance community
What are the Restrictions of the position of the CEO/MD?
A CEO/MD cannot be appointed as a part of the audit remuneration and governance community.
Provisions for Auditors under Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance?
External Auditors are subject to rotation for firms every 5 years.
An individual shall not be an external auditor of a company for more than 10 years, he can only be considered for reappointment 7 years after their disengagement
PRINCIPLE 20
What are the sectorial codes of Code of Corporate Governance in Nigeria?
- Code of Corporate Governance of Banks and discounting houses 2014 by the CBN
- Code of Corporate Governance for Public companies 2011 by the SEC
- Code of Corporate Governance for Insurance industry 2009 by the NIC
- Code of Corporate Governance for financial institutions in Nigeria **2018*^ issued by CBN
- CCG for Licensed Pension Fund Operators issued by National Pension Commission
- CCG for telecommunications industry 2016 issued by the Nigerian communications commission
What is multiple directors?
A director in a public company cannot hold more than 5 directorship positions at the same time & where he does, he must resign before the next AGM.
Principle 2.8.1 of NCCG-A director can hold concurrent directorships must disclose to the board & the board must take account of the numbers.
He cannot hold in the same industry PRINCIPLE 2.8.3
S 307
How many directors must be independent directors in a public company?
S 275
Every public company must have 1/3 of its directors as independent directors.
Who is an independent director in CAMA?
independent director” means a director of the company who, or whose relatives, during the two years preceding the time in question:
a. was not an employee of the company;
b. did not make to or receive from the company payments of more than
N20,000,000, or
c. own more than a 30% share or other ownership interest, in the company, or in a company that paid or received more than N20,000,000 from the company.
d. was not engaged directly or indirectly as an auditor for the company.
S 275(3)i
What is the tenure of non executive directors for banks?
non-executive directors of banks shall serve for a maximum of 3 terms of
4 years each.
But maximum of 12 years
Tenure of MD/CEO of banks?
Tenure of the MD/CEO is 12 years
3 terms of 4 years each.
SEC 3.2
Corporate Governance Guidelines for Commercial, Merchant, Non-Interest and Payment Service Banks
composition of the board for banks?
Minimum of 7 directors
Maximum of 15 directors
SEC 1.3
Minimum of IED-It shall be three(3)
What is the number of equity holding that requires disclosure in banks?
Holders of more than 5 of the equity holdings in a bank shall be subject to the CBN’s approval.
Government Holders of more than 10 of the equity holdings in a bank shall be subject to CBN’s approval
Article 3.2
What is the required no of directors for a company to have?
-every company except from a small company shall have at least 2 directors.
-Where the directors are less than 2, within one month, new directors must be appointed & such company shall not carry on business without making such appointment.
How are first directors appointed?
S 272
-By the subscribers of the memorandum of association in writing.
-By majority of the subscribers
-Naming them in the articles.
Appointment of subsequent directors?
S 273 CAMA
1. The members can appoint or reject directors at the AGM
2. The memo or articles may empower someone to appoint & remove a director-SEC 46(3)
3. Where all the directors die, the PRs can convene a meeting & appoint directors, where they fail to do so, the creditors may do it.
How can subsequent directors be appointed?
-Notice may be given within a period of 3-21 days before the date appointed for the meeting, in writing by a member entitled to vote at the meeting proposing the appointment of a person as a director.
-Such notice must be left at the head/registered office of the company and the proposed director must have signed, consenting to the appointment.
-Appointment is done by ORDINARY RESOLUTION
-The secretary files FORM CAC 7within 14days from the day the resolution was passed & a copy of the ordinary resolution with CAC.
Appointment of MANAGING DIRECTORS?
-Such person must have been appointed as a director
-The BOD will subsequently appoint him as a MD & delegate all or any of their powers (not statutory duties) to such MD
S 289(5) CAMA
Removal of directors?
-ORDINARY RESOLUTION
-SPECIAL NOTICE should be given by the person proposing the removal.(at least 28 days before the proposed date for removal)
-Notice of removal must be given to the director
-Notice of removal must be given to members 21 days before the meeting
-The director may make representation after receipt of the notice of removal.
Deliver to CAC within 14 days CAC 7A
-Effect the removal in the necessary registers i.e register of directors/directors shareholdings
SEC 288
Options available to a director that was wrongfully removed?
- Compensation for loss of office/breach of service contract
- Action for damages
- Seek an order of court reinstating him as a director
SEC 288(6)
Who can be appointed as a secretary of a private company?
Any person who has requisite knowledge & skills in the opinion of the directors.
SEC 332 CAMA
Who can be appointed as a secretary of a private company?
Any person who has requisite knowledge & skills in the opinion of the directors.
SEC 332 CAMA
Who can be appointed as a secretary of a public company?
- A member of the chartered institute of secretaries and administration
- A legal practitioner within the definition of a LEGAL PRACTITIONER
- A member of a professional body of accountancy established by an Act of the National Assembly
- A person who has been appointed for at least 3 years of 5 years as a secretary before his appointment
- A body corporate whose member is part of a,b & c
SEC 332 CAMA
Who appoints first secretaries?
The subscribers/promoters
-First secretary is named in FORM CAC 1.1 deliver documents with the MEMART
-Notify CAC within 14 days of the appointment, together with his written consent.
Subsequent secretaries-CAC 8 & enter his details in the register of secretaries
Removal of a secretary of a private company?
-Board Resolution
-Notify CAC within 14 days of his removal together with CAC 8A
-Enter the details into the register of secretary.
Removal of secretary of a public company?
SEC 333
BOARD RESOLUTION
The directors shall give him notice stating:
1. Their intention to remove him
2. The grounds upon which the removal is based on
3. 7 working days period to resign
4. 7 working days to enter his defence.
-Where he fails to enter his defence or resign within the prescribed time, he shall be removed & the removal shall be reported at the next AGM.
However where he enters his defence & it’s not sufficient, the directors may remove him if the allegations are based on fraud or serious misconduct.
-If the allegations is not based on fraud or serious misconduct, he cannot be removed until the next AGM but he can be suspended
Should every company have 2 directors?
• Every company, EXCEPT a small company defined in S.394(3) of CAMA, is required to have at least two (2) directors
Must all companies have a minimum of 2 directors?
• Every company, EXCEPT a small company defined in S.394(3) of CAMA, is required to have at least two (2) directors
S 271
Who are the directors that don’t retire by rotation under section 285?
- Executive
- Independent directors
- Life directors
Who are the directors that don’t retire by rotation in accordance to section 288?
- Life directors
- Shadow directors
- Executive directors
Who is an executive director?
Executive directors are responsible for the day-to-day running of the company and their powers are usually guided by the articles.
• He is entitled to be remunerated.
• He is an alter ego, and a servant of the company, because he is an employee.
Who is a non executive director?
A non-executive director is a director that attends board of directors meeting and is not entitled to be remunerated apart from re-imbursement of his out-of-pocket expenses in attending company’s matters.
They do not retire by rotation i.e chairman BOD.
Who is an interloper director?
A directors that is not officially appointed but the company held him out as a director. The company will be liable and cannot rescind on contracts he validly entered into.
Who is an alternate director?
This is a person appointed by a director to sit on the board in his place under the powers contained in the articles
• There must be a provision in the Articles of Association & he must be approved at the AGM.
How is an appointment of a managing director done?
- Appoint him as a director first: A managing director must first have been appointed as director.
- Appoint him as a MD: BOD appoints him as MD and upon appointing him as a MD, the BOD can delegate all or any of their powers(not statutory) to him
How can a life director be removed?
Ordinary resolution at the AGM through special notice.
S 288
What happens where the chairman is late to the BOD meeting?
Another person may be appointed to replace him after 5 minutes
Is the chairman BOD an executive director?
NO! For public companies, Article 5.1(c) of the CCGPC, the chairman should be a
non-executive director.
Can a director over 70 years and above be appointed as a director of a public company?
YES! however he must give a disclosure to the members at the AGM(272 CAMA)
He must also give special notice to the company within 28 days of his proposed appointment stating his age(282 CAMA)
How are first directors appointed?
- By majority of the subscribers in writing
- The directors may be named in the articles
** S 272**
When can a PR convene a meeting to appoint directors?
Where all directors and shareholders die, any of their personal representatives may apply to court for an order to convene a meeting of all PRs of the shareholder to appoint new directors to manage the company.
If they fail to convene a meeting, creditors may do so. Section 273(2) CAMA
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