Connect with us

/home/kenneth/web/nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/parts/post-single.php on line 153
">
Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /home/kenneth/web/nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/parts/post-single.php on line 153

Warning: Attempt to read property "cat_name" on null in /home/kenneth/web/nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/parts/post-single.php on line 153

Liberalizing the Postal Sector

Published

on

Kindly share this post

In market dynamics as in real life situations, change is imperative. Change makes room for new opportunities for improvement in service delivery, for the development of new products, new processes, new structures and new ways of giving values to customers.

It has become a global trend that most governments have no business being in business. Instead, the movement all over the world is towards deregulation and privatization. In a liberalized economy, entrepreneurs would conduct due diligence, invest expertise, time and money, employ local people and pay taxes to the government. All that is required of the government is put an enabling law in place in accordance with international best practices that will make businesses to thrive.

The revolution in the telecommunications sector is a test case of what liberalization can bring to an economy. The Post Office and the Telecommunication Services used to be one organization before under the Post and Telecommunications (P&T) Department.

The department was later separated into Nitel and Nipost. Further attempts that were made to reform and liberalize the two sectors were blocked as a result of vested interests. However, the telecommunications industry was opened up by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2001 to allow private expertise and investments to come in. Prior to deregulation, the telecoms industry was a monopoly dominated by Nitel and telephone lines then were in the hands of few aristocrats who could afford them. Owning a telephone line in such an era became a status symbol. In 1999, only about 450,000 lines were available compared to about 54 million lines that are connected in 2008, just seven years after liberalizing the telecoms sector.

Drivers of reform for the postal and courier sector are optimistic that the same feat achieved in the telecoms sector could be replicated in the postal and courier. They criticize government’s overindulgence in the affairs of Nipost, the national carrier in the postal business and say that such has led the organization to a lot of technical, financial and operational problems that have prevented the outfit from providing its core services. Constraints faced by Nipost in its operations include bureaucracy, complacency, insolvency, technical inadequacy among others as described by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The current practice worldwide is that governments are finding creative ways of funding and managing their service delivery to their citizens. They divest their equity holdings in the so called government establishments and allow private people to come in form of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) initiatives.

The proposed Policy and Draft Act demand that Nipost changes its legal status to a limited liability company. It is expected that by this change the new Nipost will be able to compete in the sector and deliver dividends to its investors. Other privately owned courier companies will also operate in a level playing field as Nipost will seize to be a government investment.


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Warning: Undefined array key 0 in /home/kenneth/web/nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/parts/post-single.php on line 493

Warning: Attempt to read property "cat_ID" on null in /home/kenneth/web/nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/parts/post-single.php on line 493

News

FIRS Rolls out e-invoicing System for Large Corporate Taxpayers

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has launched a national electronic invoicing system, seen as a significant step toward digitising the country’s tax infrastructure and boosting compliance among large corporate taxpayers.

The system, known as the Merchant-Buyer Solution (MBS), officially went live on August 1 after a successful pilot phase that began in November 2024. It is being rolled out in phases, starting with companies that have an annual turnover of at least ₦5 billion. According to FIRS, these large taxpayers represent over 5,000 businesses nationwide.

More than 1,000 companies — roughly 20% of eligible firms — have already integrated with the platform, including telecoms giant MTN Nigeria, which became the first to transmit live electronic invoices to the tax authority. Other major players such as Huawei Nigeria and IHS Towers are completing their onboarding and are expected to go live in the coming days.

“The launch of the e-invoicing regime ushers in a new era of transparency, accuracy, and real-time monitoring of commercial transactions,” Dare Adekanmbi, who is the spokesperson for Zacch Adedeji, FIRS Chairman, said in a statement on Sunday.

The e-invoicing solution forms part of the agency’s broader Electronic Fiscal System (EFS), which is designed to ensure authenticity and completeness of invoice data and limit opportunities for tax evasion. It also aligns with Nigeria’s Revenue Services Reform Act — a legislative framework aimed at harmonising revenue collection and providing a single source of truth for government receipts.

The FIRS said it is working in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to incorporate system integrators and access point providers into the onboarding ecosystem. These providers are tasked with supporting the integration process and helping companies manage their transition onto the e-invoicing platform.

While the original deadline for onboarding was set for August 1, the tax agency has granted a three-month grace period to allow companies facing operational challenges to comply. The new deadline for mandatory integration is November 1, 2025.

“In the spirit of encouraging voluntary compliance, the FIRS management has graciously approved a three-month extension of the deadline,” the agency said. “We also acknowledge the genuine efforts of many taxpayers who strove to meet the 1st of August 2025 deadline but encountered operational constraints.”

The system will eventually be extended to medium and smaller enterprises, but for now, the focus remains on onboarding the largest players, who contribute a significant share of Nigeria’s corporate tax base.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest population, has been ramping up efforts to boost non-oil revenues amid volatile crude prices and growing fiscal pressures. Tax-to-GDP ratio remains among the lowest globally, estimated at just over 10%, according to official figures.

The FIRS has increasingly leaned on technology to expand the tax net and reduce leakages.

“The e-invoicing platform gives us real-time visibility into the business-to-business segment, which has historically been under-reported,” a senior FIRS official familiar with the rollout said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. “It significantly enhances our ability to track transactions and enforce compliance.”

To facilitate onboarding, the FIRS e-Invoicing Implementation Team is conducting webinars, workshops, and town hall sessions across the country, targeting tax consultants, financial controllers, and compliance officers within affected firms.

The Federal Government expects the digitisation effort to streamline tax administration, reduce disputes and simplify audit processes for both taxpayers and regulators.

The FIRS has not disclosed projected revenue gains from the e-invoicing rollout, but industry experts believe it could yield significant medium-term improvements in tax efficiency and administration.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Zequence Digital Boss Calls for Strong IP Laws Enforcement, to Protect Nigeria’s Software Sector

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Mr Adeoye Oludamilola, managing director, Zequence Digital, a digital agency,  has said strong enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP) laws , protection of Nigeria’s software industry against piracy will encourage innovation and investment.

Zequence Digital Boss Calls for Strong IP Laws Enforcement, to Protect Nigeria’s Software Sector

Adeoye told reporters lately in Lagos that software piracy and the unauthorised use of proprietary technology are widespread in the country.

According to report Intellectual Property (IP) laws in software refers to the legal rights that protect the creations of the mind used in software development.

These rights, which include copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks, grant developers exclusive control over their software and related assets, preventing unauthorised use or reproduction.

Adeoye said that many startups do not protect their innovations, due to a lack of knowledge and the cumbersome legal processes involved.

“IP registration and litigation are expensive and time-consuming, which further discourages developers from protecting their work,” Adeoye said.

He added that the lack of awareness among developers about their IP rights contributed to the problem.

To address these challenges, Adeoye stressed the need for the formation of an IP Protection Consortium, comprising tech firms, legal experts, and regulators, to advocate for stronger IP enforcement.

He also suggested collaborating with legal tech startups to create simplified platforms for fast-tracked IP registration.

The managing director further called for joint initiatives between legal bodies and tech communities to launch IP rights education campaigns.

This, he said, would equip developers with the knowledge they needed to protect their innovations and grow their businesses.

Adeoye emphasised the need for the government and stakeholders to create an ecosystem for development and inclusivity by proactively engaging with regulators.

According to him, this will help ensure that policies are created with the input of concerned agencies and industry experts.

 

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

General News

Kuwait Busts Nigerian Cybercrime Ring Targeting Telecom Tower, Banks

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Kuwait’s Criminal Security Sector has dismantled an international cybercrime ring composed of Nigerians responsible for coordinated attacks on telecommunications towers and banks, the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday.

Kuwait Busts Nigerian Cybercrime Ring Targeting Telecom Tower, Banks

According to Arabic-language daily Al Qabas, the case was initiated after the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority reported cyber intrusions targeting local telecom networks.

Specialised security teams quickly launched an investigation, discovering that the suspects used advanced electronic devices to breach networks and distribute mass phishing messages impersonating banks, aiming to steal account information and siphon funds.

Signal-tracking technology led investigators to a vehicle in the Salmiya area.

When authorities attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver tried to flee, colliding with several cars before being apprehended following a fierce struggle.

A search of the vehicle uncovered sophisticated electronic equipment and various technical tools.

Upon investigation, the suspect confessed to collaborating with an accomplice to hack telecom networks and send fraudulent messages posing as banks and telecommunications companies.

Police subsequently located and arrested the second suspect, and a search of their residence uncovered additional devices used to analyse the stolen data.

Both suspects, along with the seized equipment, have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.

The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the nation’s cybersecurity and intensifying efforts to combat electronic fraud targeting both citizens and residents.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending