Group to improve taxpayer information system in Abia

IBP’s Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, Nancy Zi

Following the implementation of four major Nigerian tax laws in January 2026, the International Budget Partnership Nigeria has taken steps to improve the existing taxpayer information system.

Speaking during a taxpayer consultation on information needs and concerns in Umuahia on Thursday, with the theme, “Building Trust in Nigeria’s Tax Reform: Strengthening Tax Grievance Redress Mechanisms and Taxpayer Education,”

, said the organisation was working with the Abia State Internal Revenue Service to understand taxpayers’ information needs and concerns.

“IBP is working in partnership with the Abia State Internal Revenue Service to have a consultation forum to understand the information needs and concerns of taxpayers in Abia.

“This will inform how we will support the State Revenue Service to improve the current taxpayer information system. At the centre of the tax system is the taxpayer, and so we want to ensure that taxpayers are treated fairly, that the system is transparent and accountable to the taxpayers, and that they understand what they are paying for, why they are paying for it and what it is used for.

“Nigeria is implementing new tax reforms, and in line with that, we want to support the state to improve its tax grievance redress mechanism,” she said.

Zi said IBP had identified ways to improve tax-related communication for taxpayers at different levels, taking into account local contexts and their information needs.

She said the consultation was aimed at helping the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue identify gaps in the existing system and develop solutions.

“So, like the consultation we had today, clearly, the BIR team are able to see areas that they need to improve on.

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“Beyond that, we will have an action plan, a work plan whereby, clearly, we have roles and responsibilities, where we will support the state and what the state needs to do to improve on the tax grievance redress mechanism in Abia.

“So, we are working together, and we are only here to propose solutions and ensure that those solutions are being utilised to improve the system,” she said.

Highlighting some of the challenges identified by IBP, Zi said many taxpayers did not clearly understand why they were required to pay taxes.

“Even the people enforcing the tax, the tax collectors, they (taxpayers) are not sure who is coming from the state, who is coming from the local government.

“Sometimes, the messaging is not in the local language, for example, in Igbo language, where they can clearly understand. So, first of all, taxpayers need to understand why they are being asked to pay tax, how they are going to pay the tax, and what the tax is used for,” she said.

Expressing optimism that the findings would help improve the tax system in Abia, Zi said taxpayers had an obligation to contribute to the state’s revenue.

“The tax is a form of revenue to the state. So, taxpayers are obligated to pay tax. If they understand what they need to pay, they should pay their tax for the improvement of Abia overall,” she said.

The International Budget Partnership Nigeria is implementing the initiative under the Nigeria INFF Programme to support the Abia and Plateau State Internal Revenue Services in establishing fair, accessible and standardised tax grievance redress mechanisms while strengthening taxpayer education.

The project builds on earlier tax grievance redress mechanism pilots implemented in Ondo, Enugu and Jigawa states in collaboration with FCDO-PACE.