The corporate affairs commission on Thursday 28th December 2023 at their corporate Head office in Abuja, made a quick turn on the expected date of implementation of striking off of companies from their register for failure to file annual return.

In a public notice made available to all her customers, and company owners vide their social media accounts on X, the commission stated that they are now extending the period of implementation of the striking off exercise, which was billed to commence on 1st January 2024, to 1st April 2024.

The commission further stated that this extension was necessary due to various technical glitches experienced by customers on the crp (company registration portal) and passionate appeals from proprietors of small, medium and macro enterprises in the country.

The commission stated further that the extension of the implementation of the penalties on any defaulting companies, does not affect companies that striking off proceeding has since been commenced against since 2nd November 2023, and further urged owners and officers of registered companies, business names, and incorporated trustees to make good use of this extension of time, and comply with annual return filing for their various registered entities.

The commission reminded all, that the striking off of companies and business names from their register, is just one among other legal strategies that the commission will adopt to recover undischarged penalties owed to the commission by defaulting companies, and this will further extend to officers of such companies.

It is important to note that filing of annual return by companies is one of the obligations of registered companies, and officers of all companies are expected to adhere timeously.