International Budget Partnership Boosts Abia's Taxpayer Communication

The International Budget Partnership Nigeria (IBP) has initiated measures to enhance the existing taxpayer information system in Abia State, a move that follows the nationwide implementation of four significant Nigerian tax laws in January 2026.

During a taxpayer consultation forum held in Umuahia on Thursday, Nancy Zi, IBP’s Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, revealed the organisation's collaboration with the Abia State Internal Revenue Service. The consultation, themed “Building Trust in Nigeria’s Tax Reform: Strengthening Tax Grievance Redress Mechanisms and Taxpayer Education,” was designed to understand the specific information needs and concerns of taxpayers in Abia.

Zi stated, “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.” She elaborated that this insight would guide IBP in supporting the State Revenue Service to improve its current taxpayer information system. Emphasizing the taxpayer's central role, Zi stressed the importance of ensuring fair treatment, transparency, and accountability within the system, alongside clarity for taxpayers regarding the purpose and utilization of their contributions.

In light of ongoing tax reforms in Nigeria, IBP aims to assist the state in bolstering its tax grievance redress mechanisms. Zi highlighted that IBP had already pinpointed various strategies to improve tax-related communication for diverse taxpayer groups, considering local contexts and their unique information requirements. The Umuahia consultation specifically sought to help the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) identify existing systemic gaps and formulate effective solutions.

“So, like the consultation we had today, clearly, the BIR team are able to see areas that they need to improve on,” Zi noted. She added that an action plan and work plan would follow, delineating clear roles and responsibilities for both IBP and the state to enhance 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 affirmed.

Among the challenges identified by IBP, Zi pointed out that many taxpayers lacked a clear understanding of why they are required to pay taxes. She also observed confusion regarding the identity of tax enforcers, with taxpayers often uncertain if officials represented the state or local government. Furthermore, she noted that vital tax messages are sometimes not communicated in local languages, such as Igbo, hindering proper comprehension. Zi underscored the fundamental need for taxpayers to understand the rationale behind their payments, the payment process, and the ultimate use of their tax contributions.

Expressing optimism that these findings would lead to significant improvements in Abia’s tax system, Zi reiterated the taxpayer’s obligation to contribute to the state’s revenue. “If they understand what they need to pay, they should pay their tax for the improvement of Abia overall,” she asserted.

This initiative by the International Budget Partnership Nigeria is being implemented under the Nigeria INFF Programme. It aims to support the Internal Revenue Services of both Abia and Plateau States in establishing fair, accessible, and standardized tax grievance redress mechanisms, while simultaneously strengthening taxpayer education. The project builds on successful tax grievance redress mechanism pilot programs previously executed in Ondo, Enugu, and Jigawa states, in collaboration with FCDO-PACE.