The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Electronic Invoicing Inter-Agency Steering Committee to oversee the rollout of a new digital invoicing platform, the Merchant Buyer Solution, aimed at enhancing transparency and curbing tax evasion across the country.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, was officially launched on Tuesday in Abuja as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s fiscal infrastructure and improve real-time monitoring of commercial transactions.
Speaking during the event, the Chief of Staff to the FIRS Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mr Tayo Koleoso, said the platform would deliver real-time visibility into business operations, improve compliance, and ultimately boost government revenue.
“This initiative is not just a technological upgrade; it is a transformative national project,” Koleoso said. “It is expected to enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and increase revenue mobilisation to support national development.”
He explained that the committee was constituted to provide high-level guidance and ensure cross-agency collaboration in the implementation of the electronic invoicing solution.
Lead Consultant to the Steering Committee, Mr Sadiq Arogundade, said the Merchant Buyer Solution was developed in line with the Federal Government’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework. He stated that the platform was designed to standardise invoice creation and exchange across both public and private sectors.
“We are working to ensure invoice exchange and creation conform to the DPI framework, which includes identity, data exchange, and payments,” he said. “Identity is key—we now know where the invoice originates and where it is going. This gives a new level of integrity and oversight to transactions.”
According to Arogundade, the system enables seamless and secure data sharing, supports cross-border invoice exchange, and integrates with existing Enterprise Resource Planning platforms. He added that the platform is being piloted with large taxpayers, including multinational corporations with complex structures.
He disclosed that Huawei has already been integrated into the pilot phase and that the system will eventually be scaled to accommodate medium and small taxpayers.
“This phased rollout allows us to manage feedback efficiently before expanding the platform to other categories of taxpayers,” he said.
The new invoicing platform is built on the Universal Business Language framework and allows for the digital creation, validation, and exchange of invoices in line with international standards.
Arogundade explained that the platform would tackle a major challenge in Nigeria’s fiscal system by reducing the prevalence of fake or manipulated invoices used to evade taxes.
The pilot phase is being conducted in partnership with key institutions, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, MTN, UBA, Seplat Energy, and Huawei.
The committee is expected to provide strategic oversight, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and advise on legal, structural, and sector-specific reforms required for full adoption.
With the launch of the platform, the Federal Government is aiming to tighten its tax administration system, reduce revenue leakages, and align Nigeria’s fiscal processes with global best practices.
