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By Chinenye Anuforo
For decades, the bottlenecks of manual collection systems, long queues, delayed remittances, and opaque records have plagued government agencies, particularly at the local and state levels. “We had to bring government closer to the people by taking payments to the field,” said Ugwo in a conversation with BusinessDay. “We saw the potential in POS as a means to digitize cash collections in remote areas and ensure real-time reconciliation across the board.”
The solution has already made an impact. From motor parks in Kaduna to tax offices in Enugu, government agents now carry POS terminals that link directly to Remita’s backend systems. This allows citizens to pay taxes, levies, and service fees instantly, with receipts logged in real-time and disbursements traceable within seconds. “It’s a game changer,” said Salihu Bello, a state internal revenue service senior official. “POS collections used to mean handwritten receipts and delayed audits. Now, the data syncs automatically.”
The adoption of POS systems also addressed a critical challenge – trust. Many Nigerians were wary of paying cash to roaming officers. With the new system, payments are verified, traceable, and digitally acknowledged. “We wanted to build not just a tool, but confidence in public systems,” Ugwo added.
Behind the scenes, integrating this payment model required navigating complex regulatory, technical, and operational terrains. Collaborations with card networks, banks, and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) were essential to ensure smooth interoperability and compliance. “Paschaline was instrumental in orchestrating this,” noted a fellow Remita executive who requested anonymity. “Her strategic clarity and product intuition allowed us to bypass obstacles that would have stalled most teams.”
The launch came as the Nigerian government was pressured to broaden its revenue base. With oil revenues fluctuating, digitizing internal revenue collection became a fiscal necessity. Ugwo’s innovation provided the infrastructure and the confidence needed to scale such efforts nationwide.
Her work has not gone unnoticed. Industry peers laud her foresight in adapting a technology typically used for retail into a robust channel for civic transformation. “Few people realize how technical product management can influence governance outcomes,” said fintech analyst Ayodeji Esan. “Paschaline’s contribution bridges that gap.”
As the nation continues its push toward cashless systems, Remita’s POS government payment initiative stands as a blueprint for digital innovation that is both inclusive and sustainable. Ugwo remains focused on expanding the service to new use cases, including healthcare payments and pension contributions.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” she said with a quiet conviction. “Innovation isn’t just about speed, it’s about building for the realities of your environment.”
In a country where systemic change often feels elusive, Paschaline Ugwo’s work reminds us that thoughtful technology, driven by capable hands, can make a difference.
