The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a 50% hike in service fees for business registrations, post-incorporation filings, and compliance services, effective August 1, 2025. The increase affects companies, partnerships, business names, and NGOs, with some fees doubling (e.g., voluntary striking-off for small companies now ₦50,000, up from ₦25,000). The CAC cited economic pressures and operational costs as reasons, pledging improved tech-driven services.
- Fee Surge: Critical services like relisting (now ₦50,000–₦100,000) and certified true copies (₦5,000 per document) now cost significantly more.
- Unaffected Items: Name reservation fees remain unchanged (₦1,000–₦5,000).
- Rationale: CAC claims the hike will fund better service delivery amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Is this a necessary pain or a barrier to entrepreneurship? While the CAC frames this as essential for efficiency, small businesses already grappling with inflation may see it as another hurdle. With Nigeria’s startup boom, could higher costs discourage formalization, or will improved services justify the price? The move also raises questions: Who was consulted in these "stakeholder engagements," and are there alternatives to blanket fee increases?
Sources: Corporate Affairs Commission, Business Post Nigeria
