Lagos State Government Educates Employees on New Tax Legislation and Revenue Overhaul

The Lagos State Government has initiated a training programme for public servants to educate them on the implications of Nigeria's new tax law, as part of its efforts to streamline revenue collection systems, eliminate duplication, and leverage technology and data in tax administration.

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Organised by the Ministry of Establishments and Training in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the two-day training aimed to equip civil servants, revenue officers, and finance professionals with the necessary knowledge to implement the new tax regime and enhance revenue administration.

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The programme, themed "Strategic Implications of the New Nigerian Tax Law," delved into tax reforms, revenue harmonisation, technology adoption, and data-driven governance, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the new tax law.

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According to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishments and Training, Odubusola Abidakone, the reforms present an opportunity for public servants to enhance compliance, transparency, and efficiency in government, and she urged participants to become advocates of tax awareness and accountability within the public service.

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Abidakone emphasized that public servants have a responsibility to understand the strategic implications of the new tax law and ensure that their institutions remain compliant, transparent, and efficient.

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The Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Abdul-Kabir Ogungbo, revealed that the state is restructuring its revenue administration through the Lagos Revenue Portal, a centralised platform for billing, payments, reconciliation, and reporting.

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Ogungbo explained that the move is intended to tackle fragmented revenue systems and prevent multiple government agencies from operating disconnected databases, which is one of the major challenges facing the state.

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He stated that harmonisation is necessary to ensure a seamless experience for taxpayers and improve efficiency across government agencies, and over 80 per cent of revenue-generating agencies in the state have already been integrated into the Lagos Revenue Portal.

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The government is working towards deeper integration between state and local government revenue systems, which is expected to make it easier for the government to track collections, reconcile payments, and obtain a clearer picture of revenue performance across its various agencies.

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At a panel session, experts highlighted the importance of technology, artificial intelligence, and integrated databases in modern tax administration, and called on government agencies to dismantle data silos, improve information sharing, and adopt technology-driven systems.

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They emphasized that these systems will support more efficient revenue collection and public service delivery, and Abisola identified operational, behavioural, technical, and structural deficiencies as factors affecting revenue performance.

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Abisola urged public servants to embrace continuous professional development, acquire stronger analytical and digital skills, and maintain integrity in the discharge of their duties, as Lagos is a global city that requires globally minded officers to support its growth and development.

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An Associate Director at PwC, Tunde Adedogba, commended the state government for investing in the capacity of its workforce, describing Lagos as a model for public-sector innovation and revenue administration.

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Adedogba challenged participants to translate the lessons from the training into measurable improvements in their respective offices, emphasizing that knowledge gained during the training must be applied to achieve improved performance across government institutions.

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Participants noted that the training provided useful insights into the need for greater collaboration among government agencies, and a Public Affairs Officer with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Keyinde Akinsoye, highlighted the value of data sharing in improving government revenue systems.

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Akinsoye said that the sessions had shown that agencies can achieve more by sharing data and working together, which will help build a stronger and more effective revenue system for Lagos State.