Business
FG Urges FIRS To Boost With Technology
The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Tuesday urged the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to deploy more technology-based platforms to boost its operations and revenue collection.
Okonjo-Iweala made the call at a workshop on “Promoting Voluntary Compliance in the Power Sector through Automation,” organised by FIRS in collaboration with Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Anastesia Nwaobia, also urged FIRS to widen its collaborative efforts to all sectors of the economy for effective compliance with regulations.
She said that the synergy between FIRS and NERC would enable the Service to deploy effective technology-based facility that would enhance tax compliance and overall transactional efficiency in the power sector.
She said that the workshop would facilitate mutual understanding of processes and systems in the emerging power sector in the country and enhance Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue collection within the sector.
According to her, taxes such as VAT provide an instant opportunity to measure progress in the sector and provide instant yield to the government.
“As we may be aware, there is increased focus on growing non-oil tax revenue to enable us improve our overall tax collection and related indices, such as our tax to GDP ratio.
“We are mindful of the fact that investment into the power sector will have an incubation period, within which income taxes may not provide significant yield.
“Focus on VAT, therefore, allows the industry to grow without bearing a huge tax burden, and at the same time enables government to realise revenue from the emergent sector,” she said.
“If the economy could grow to become the largest economy in Africa in the face of power sector challenges, more would be achieved with an efficient and self-sufficient power sector,” the minister added.
Earlier, the acting Chairman of FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, said the service would build on the successes recorded in the privatisation of the power sector to grow the country’s non-oil tax revenue.
He said FIRS decided to partner relevant stakeholders in the power sector to promote greater understanding of the service’s operations.
The chairman said that the workshop was to highlight FIRS’s latest Information Technology collection platforms with respect to the power and energy sector.
He also said that the workshop would create opportunity for FIRS “to understand the process flow, the billing system and the handling of payments, among others, in the power sector”.
He said that the service had, through the Joint Tax Board, had similar engagement with the aviation industry, banking sector, states and local governments.
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter