In its relentless drive to hit the 2025 target of raking in N120 billion in internally-generated revenue (IGR), Abia State government has through the State Internal Revenue Service(AIRS), deployed WHT-P, a payment platform for seamless collection of withholding tax.
AIRS, which is the agency on the driving seat in revenue generation for the state has already had its staffs trained on the operations of tne withholding tax payment app.
Abia Governor, Alex Otti had in the 2025 fiscal policy gave IGR estimate of N100.6 billion but it was later reversed and jerked to N120 billion apparently in response to more windows of revenue collections and enabling technologies.
The WHT-P developed by Appmart, a Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN ) licensed financial solution company, was introduced to the staff of AIRS during a training session by Mr. Mike Opoko, a representative of the developers.
Appmart has through its subsidiary, Revotax Ltd, developed several advanced systems that have been adopted to good effect in revenue collection by various governments in Nigeria and West Africa.
Speaking on the capabilities of the WHT platform now in use by AIRS, the Appmart Chief Technical Officer(CTO), Chief Anthony Umejiofor, said that the platform was aimed at improving tax compliance.
According to him, the withholding tax payers can register online at wht.abia.tax and validate their Abia State Social Identity Number(ABSSIN), upload and review their WHT schedule, and make secure payments at any bank.
He stated that the platform automates all Withholding Tax Payments, provide a seamless process for taxpayers in Abia state to handle their withholding tax and make payments.
Umejiofor further listed other key benefits of the payment platform, saying that it makes it possible for taxpayers to redeem their credit notes and apply them to reduce their income tax liabilities in the state.
The Executive Chairman of AIRS, Professor Udochukwu Ogbonna corroborated the Appmart CTO on the effectiveness of WHT. He said that it was essentially created to trace the Withholding Tax payers, give them their full tax assessment to ensure they pay the appropriate tax.
“What we did today was to create this platform so that all the Withholding Taxes paid are monitored by the AIRS to ensure that the full tax is paid and collected,” he said.
Prof Ogbonna explained that withholding tax is imposed on those rendering services or doing contracts. Certain percentages of the tax they are liable to pay on such services are statutorily deducted at source by the firms or agencies that awarded the contracts.
He noted that the contract-awarding organisations or agencies are automatically mandated by law to deduct and remit to government between five and 10 percent of the contract cost as applicable.
Abia’s chief tax collector, who is a professor of finance, said that AIRS collaborated with Appmart for the deployment of WHT-P with the former providing the manpower while the latter provided the technical know-how.
Ogbonna outlined the huge impact the payment platform would have on increased tax revenue, saying that it would enhance the operational capabilities of AIRS.
“We are monitoring WHT now unlike before, to trace those companies/agents that are supposed to give us the information namely, the contractors’ names, addresses, telephone contacts, emails etc through which we can reach them to pay their full taxes,” he said.
