Follow Us on Google
By Henry Uche
As Nigeria navigates a new era of tax reforms, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria(CITN), in collaboration with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has engaged tax experts in an e- Invoicing practical workshop with the aim of curbing invasion, boost efficiency and grow the economy.
With the theme: Unlocking Business Value with the NRS e-Invoicing Merchant-Buyer Solution (MBS), the 17th President/ Chairman of Council of CITN, Mr. Innocent Ohagwa, maintained that the e-invoicing programme is firmly rooted in the Institute’s long-standing philosophy of engagement, education and partnership.
He explained that sustainable revenue growth can only be achieved where taxpayers are properly informed and guided by professionals; when tax administrators are adequately equipped; and where trust exists between government and the governed.
“We shall continue to support governments and tax authorities across the Federation through capacity building, technical support, policy dialogue, advocacy and grassroots sensitisation. Our collaboration with the Nigeria Revenue Service therefore forms part of our broader national effort to demystify the provisions of the new Tax Reform Acts, promote voluntary compliance and strengthen the overall tax ecosystem in Nigeria”
Ohagwa stressed that the NRS e-Invoicing Merchant–Buyer Solution sits at the very heart of the current reform effort, representing a decisive shift from reactive enforcement to proactive compliance, and from manual reporting to real-time data integrity.
For businesses, CITN boss affirmed that it offers efficiency, certainty and reduced compliance risk. For government, it provides credible data, improved revenue assurance and a stronger foundation for informed policy planning. For the economy, it strengthens trust – which is the most valuable currency of any progressive and credible tax system.
“Tax compliance should not be perceived as a cost imposed on enterprise, but as a system that supports growth, competitiveness and sustainability. The focus on compliance and benefits reinforces a simple but enduring truth: when systems are clear, fair and efficient, compliance follows naturally.
“We are committed to supporting the Nigeria Revenue Service and all stakeholders in this reform journey. We will continue deploy our district societies, technical platforms, and professional networks to deepen awareness, build capacity and promote voluntary compliance across the country” he averred.
In an address, the Chairman, ICT Committee of CITN, Dr. Ruth Abiola Adimula, added that, as a tech robust framework, it workshop sets a new benchmark for efficiency, security, and reliability in managing fiscal and transactional activities in Nigeria. The knowledge gained would enable real-time digital reporting of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions directly to tax authorities, such as the NRS, through a secured and structured platform.
According to her, e -invoicing significantly helps to improve audit efficiency, operating on structured data formats, such as XML, which integrate seamlessly into accounting systems. Under the real-time validation or clearance model, she explained that e- invoices are transmitted to the tax authority’s portal—such as the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS) platform—for approval before being issued to the buyer, after which approved invoices are then assigned unique identifiers, such as stamp identifiers or QR codes, to guarantee authenticity and traceability.
“The era of new tax laws and reforms in Nigeria is no longer a matter of the future—it is already here with us. The tax ecosystem is evolving rapidly, and today’s workshop is a clear demonstration of our collective commitment to embracing innovation, strengthening compliance, and modernising tax administration in Nigeria.
“CITN is working closely with the Nigeria Revenue Service to support the growth of the digital economy and to facilitate the phased implementation of e-invoicing, with the ultimate goal of enhancing efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness in Nigeria’s tax system.
“The overarching objective of this system is to enhance tax transparency, curb fraud, and modernise VAT reporting. In essence, every transaction becomes digitally visible to the tax authorities—leaving no room for opacity in invoicing. It is therefore imperative for all stakeholders to understand how this system works and how to comply effectively. We have the human capacity, digital infrastructure, and intellectual resources to provide leadership in this new tax era- to navigate the technical and practical realities of e-invoicing in Nigeria” she assured.
Other News
In his presentation, Mohammed Bawa – Project Manager, NRS MBS e-invoicing solution, who spoke on ‘Unlocking Business Value with the NRS e-Invoicing Merchant-Buyer Solution (MBS): Objective, Compliance, and Benefits’ highlighted the benefits of Merchant- Buyer Solution across stakeholders, which create value and efficiency for businesses and contributing to a stronger national economy.
For businesses, the benefits include: real-time invoice authentication and validation, reduced reconciliation disputes and faster payment cycles, and enhanced financial accuracy and compliance assurance.
For NRS, there is broader visibility into transaction value chains, data-driven and predictive tax administration, as well as enhanced capacity for tax fraud detection.
While for the economy, there is increased overall tax efficiency and certainty, strengthened and formalized business ecosystem, and greater foreign and domestic investor trust.
Describing MBS as catalyst for digital economy growth, he believe that the implementation of MBS is a pivotal step that positions Nigeria’s tax administration and business environment in line with advanced global standards, driving significant socio-economic benefits.
To him, MBS drives formalization, encourages businesses currently operating in the shadow economy to formalize their activities, expanding the tax base fairly. “It is data-driven policymaking. It provides accurate, timely data on financial activity, enabling better calibration of fiscal policies and economic interventions. It reduces tax leakages. Real-time overnight drastically reduces opportunities for tax evasion and fraudulent claims, as well as secure government revenue. There is global alignment. This ensures Nigeria meets and adheres to international e-invoicing standards, improving cross-border trade readiness and credibility” he added.
Similarly, Sadiq Arogundade -NRS Lead Invoicing Consultant speaking on, ‘Implementing the NRS e-Invoicing MBS: Architecture, Standards, and Models’ unveiled the lessons and best practices for implementation MBS success.
Arogundade underlined core principles that guarantee a smoother, compliant, and cost-effective transition to the MBS architecture. He noted “Start early and plan integration. The integration process is technical, it requires sufficient time for system readiness, adaption, and extensive end-to-end testing in the sandbox environment.
“Engage certified providers: You must work exclusively with certified APPs or SIs. Their certification ensures they adhere to NRS technical and security standards mitigating compliance risk for the taxpayer”
He implored tax experts to maintain meticulous documentation of every integration step, configuration change, and validation process, noting that such is invaluable for future system audits and maintenance.
“You must ensure robust data hygiene. Clean and consistent master data (Customer details, product codes, company registration numbers is absolutely crucial for useful successful automated validation by NRS.
He charged them to invest in internal training, particularly for internal finance and I.T teams. “They need to understand the new process, error handling, and security protocols” he added.
Tutoring on ‘e-Invoicing in Nigeria: Challenges, Impacts, and the Role of Tax Practitioners, Mr. Chijioke Odo, Indirect Tax Partner at Deloitte, encouraged them to stand up to any challenge that may come their way while carrying out their professional responsibilities. “You have to reshape the narrative, make people including corporate to understand. This can be taxing, but we must brace up and make it work” he admonished.
