Understanding CAC Statement of Compliance: How to Fill

The CAC statement of compliance is a mandatory page that must be completed when processing a CAC registration for a company. In this guide, I will explain everything you need to know about filing your CAC statement of compliance form and what it actually means.

Just a few weeks ago, a client reached out to me via WhatsApp, asking me to provide details about myself so he could complete the CAC statement of compliance form.

From our conversation, I could tell that he has little knowledge of what CAC expects of us (accredited agents) and even those using the public portal to fill in the form box.

What is the CAC Statement of Compliance?

During company registration, CAC mandates that you fill out a statement of compliance before heading to the documents upload page.

A Statement of Compliance is a declaration by company applicant or agent that all requirements and obligations under the CAMA 2020 has been fulfilled for the registration to go ahead

Who Can Sign the CAC Statement of Compliance in Nigeria?

The following persons can fill in the statement of compliance form during the registration

• A chattered accountant
• Legal practitioner
• Chattered secretary
• Any other individual engaging in company registration using the public portal

How to Fill the CAC Statement of Compliance Form

When doing CAC registration, the statement of compliance is supposed to be filled out below just after selecting the right share capital

For Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, Chartered

If you are doing the registration for a client, fill in the following information

• Your full name
• Accreditation Number, which carries your professional body code e.g ICAN/IND/54, NBA/, with digits
• Your contact address
• Phone number
• Email address

Note: These details should be the same as the details on your accredited agent profile.

If you are using an agent’s account to do CAC registration, you will have to fill in the email address of the owner of the account

For Individuals Doing Registrations for themselves or for others using the Public Portal

This is where a lot of people get confused. If this is you, kindly fill in your information (e.g Director’s Information) if the company belongs to you, and you are doing the registration yourself.

If you are doing the registration on behalf of someone, fill in the details of that person in the same way you used them when creating the public account.

You don’t need a lawyer or an accountant’s information for this when using a public portal.

However, for complex registrations like a holding company registration, you obviously need an accredited agent’s account due to the complexity of the job.

So, in summary, the following details will be required of you

• Your full name (of the public account owner, as if it were used to register with CAC)
• The contact address
• Phone number
• Email address

Once you have followed this process and filled in the necessary details, proceed to the documents page, upload documents, make a payment and submit.

Common Mistakes When Filling Statement of Compliance

Below are some common mistakes most people make when filing a statement of compliance

• Not understanding what a statement of compliance is
• Filing wrong information
• Using different information instead of the details of the account holder
• Not being able to provide the signature of the applicant or agent under document uploads
• Using the director’s details or the shareholders’ details while still using an accredited agent portal.

Difference Between Statement of Compliance and Declaration of Compliance

According to Detail Solicitors, the primary difference between the two is that Under CAMA 1990, a CAC Declaration of Compliance had to be signed by a lawyer and sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public.

Under CAMA 2020, it was replaced by a simpler Statement of Compliance, which can be signed by the applicant or their accredited agent without requiring a lawyer’s attestation.

This change to the statement of compliance was adopted to reduce the bureaucratic nature and simplify registrations with the commission.

Importance of Statement of Compliance for a New Company

Without this declaration, the registration of the company will not be completed

The CAC statement of compliance serves as official confirmation that the company has met all legal requirements for establishment under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020

This is key towards the company’s success and future. A statement of compliance is not just a form to fill out but a key part of a company’s compliance with corporate governance.