The International Budget Partnership Nigeria is partnering with the Abia State Internal Revenue Service to enhance the state's taxpayer information system following the implementation of four major Nigerian tax laws in January 2026. During a taxpayer consultation held in Umuahia on Thursday with the theme 'Building Trust in Nigeria's Tax Reform: Strengthening Tax Grievance Redress Mechanisms and Taxpayer Education', the partnership outlined its plans to support improvements to how the revenue service communicates with and serves taxpayers.
Nancy Zi, the International Budget Partnership Nigeria's Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator, said the initiative aims to ensure taxpayers are treated fairly and that the tax system operates with transparency and accountability. "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," Zi said. The partnership has identified ways to improve tax-related communication tailored to different taxpayer groups and local contexts, she added.
Several gaps in the current system have been identified. Many taxpayers do not understand why they are required to pay taxes, Zi said, and confusion persists about whether revenue collectors represent the state or local government. She also noted that tax messaging is often not available in local languages such as Igbo, limiting taxpayers' understanding of payment requirements and how revenue is used. The consultation in Umuahia enabled the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue to identify specific areas for improvement.
The International Budget Partnership Nigeria is implementing this initiative under the Nigeria INFF Programme, supporting both Abia and Plateau State Internal Revenue Services in establishing fair and accessible tax grievance redress mechanisms while strengthening taxpayer education. The project builds on earlier tax grievance redress mechanism pilots in Ondo, Enugu and Jigawa states conducted in collaboration with FCDO-PACE. An action plan with defined roles and responsibilities for both the partnership and the state revenue service will guide the improvement process.
For Abia residents, clearer communication about tax obligations and more transparent grievance mechanisms means better understanding of how state revenues are used and easier ways to resolve tax-related disputes.