The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria is the apex regulatory institution of the Nigerian capital market supervised by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The Commission has evolved over time having started with the establishment of the Capital Issues Committee in 1962 by the government as an essential arm of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The promulgation of the ISA No. 25 of 2007 gives the Commission its current power.
The objectives of the SEC are as follows;
- Registration of securities and market intermediaries to ensure that only fit and proper persons / institutions are allowed to operate in the market. Instruments and persons registered in the market are
- Inspection either done “onsite” or “off-site”. The Commission, at regular intervals, calls for information from capital market operators. It also undertakes and conducts inquiries and audits of any participant in the market whenever necessary.
- Surveillance is carried out over exchanges and trading systems to forestall breaches of market rules as well as deter and detect manipulations and trading practices which are capable of causing market disruption.
- Investigation of alleged breaches of the laws and regulations governing the capital market and enforcement of sanctions where appropriate.
- Enforcement actions are taken against market operators who are found wanting after investigation is carried out, in minor cases, an all parties meeting is convened by the Commission where it mediates between parties involved in a dispute.
- Rule making by the Commission as developments occur. This is to ensure that the Commission meets up with international best practices.
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