If you own shares in Nigerian companies and have not been receiving dividends, the most common reasons are:
Your shares are not linked to an active bank account for e-dividend payment.
Your shareholder records contain incorrect details (name, address, BVN, or CSCS information).
Some dividends may be classified as unclaimed dividends.
Step 1: Confirm How You Hold the Shares
If you bought shares through a stockbroker and they are in your CSCS account, contact your stockbroker first.
If the shares were bought during public offers or inherited from someone, you may need to update your shareholder records with the company’s registrar.
Step 2: Register for E-Dividend
The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) introduced the e-dividend system so dividends are paid directly into your bank account.
You will generally need:
BVN
Bank account details
Valid ID
Passport photograph (sometimes required)
CSCS account number (if applicable)
You can obtain an e-dividend mandate form from the registrar handling your shares.
Step 3: Identify the Registrar for Each Company
Different companies use different registrars. For example:
First Registrars & Investor Services
Meristem Registrars
Coronation Registrars
Africa Prudential
Once you know the registrar, you can complete the e-dividend mandate process with them.
Step 4: Check for Unclaimed Dividends
If dividends were declared in previous years but not paid to you, the registrar can help determine:
Whether dividends are outstanding.
The amount due.
What documents are needed to claim them.
If You Tell Me:
The names of the companies whose shares you own (for example, Dangote Cement, Zenith Bank, GTCO, etc.), and
Whether you bought them through a stockbroker, Bamboo, Invest.ngxgroup, or a public offer,
I can help you identify the correct registrar and the exact steps to start receiving your dividends.

You’re filling an e-Dividend (often written “e-Dividend”) mandate form, and those two fields confuse a lot of people. Let’s clarify them properly so you don’t make errors.
🧠 1. Tax Identification Number (TIN)
This is issued by
👉 Federal Inland Revenue Service
✔️ What to do:
If you have a company:
Use your company TIN (you got it when you registered with CAC)
If you’re an individual investor:
Use your personal TIN
👉 If you don’t have one:
You can use your BVN-linked TIN
Or generate it via FIRS TaxPro Max
⚠️ Important:
Don’t leave it blank (some registrars reject forms)
Ensure the name on TIN matches your bank/CSCS name
🧠 2. RC Number (Registration Number)
This comes from
👉 Corporate Affairs Commission
✔️ What to enter:
If you registered a company:
Enter your RC number
Example: RC 1234567
If you are NOT a company (very common):
You have two options depending on the form:
Option A:
👉 Write: “N/A” (Not Applicable)
Option B:
👉 Some forms allow:
Leave it blank
📌 Most Likely Your Situation
From your questions, you’re probably:
An individual investor (not registering shares as a company)
👉 So you should fill:
TIN → Your personal TIN (or BVN-linked TIN)
RC Number → N/A
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using wrong TIN (company vs personal)
❌ Leaving fields empty when required
❌ Name mismatch across:
Bank account
CSCS account
TIN
👉 This causes dividend payment failure
🔧 Quick Example (How Yours Should Look)
TIN: 12345678-0001
RC Number: N/A
🔚 Bottom Line
TIN = your tax ID (personal or company)
RC Number = only for registered companies
👉 If you’re investing as an individual → just put N/A for RC