Nigeria Unveils Unified Digital Revenue System in Major Reform Push
Story: written by Joseph December 9,2025
Nigeria’s federal government has rolled out its most sweeping public finance reform since the introduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), launching an integrated digital revenue system that brings together TSA, GIFMIS, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), FIRS and other key financial infrastructure under one central monitoring platform.
The reform—driven by four circulars issued by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) between November 24 and 27—marks a major shift toward full automation, electronic payments, and real-time oversight of federal revenue streams.
Beginning January 1, 2026, all federal payments will require digital receipts, which will serve as the only officially recognised proof of payment across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
The initiative forms part of Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun’s broader agenda to modernise Nigeria’s revenue framework, block leakages, curb corruption, and strengthen fiscal stability. Government insiders say Nigeria loses billions annually to unauthorised deductions, hidden payment channels and manual revenue handling.
“This is the most transformative update to federal treasury operations since the TSA was launched,” an OAGF source told BusinessDay. “Nigeria is stepping fully into a transparent, technology-led financial era.”
At the core of the reform is the Revenue Optimisation Platform (RevOp), approved as the government’s unified system for billing, reconciliation, monitoring and performance tracking. RevOp will operate as the central command hub for federal revenue, giving policymakers real-time insight into what MDAs collect, remit and report.
For Nigerians and businesses, the platform offers a simpler and more reliable payment process, replacing the confusing mix of channels used by government agencies.
One of the major changes is the strict ban on physical cash receipts. All federal revenues must now be collected electronically, shutting off avenues for fraud, incomplete remittances and poor documentation. MDAs have also been ordered to halt the use of unapproved, customised payment applications that previously contributed to revenue discrepancies.
Another sweeping change is the prohibition of deductions at the point of collection—whether described as service charges, fees or commissions. Under the new rules, every kobo collected must be paid in full into the TSA.
A central feature of the reform is the Federal Treasury e-Receipt (FTeR), which becomes mandatory from January 1, 2026. Generated through RevOp, the FTeR will be the only legally valid receipt for all federal transactions, eliminating fake receipts, duplicate books and unverifiable acknowledgements.
“The principle is straightforward: once you pay the federal government, you receive one verified, tamper-proof receipt,” the OAGF official said. “This blocks one of the longest-standing fraud channels in public finance.”
The e-receipt system ensures that every transaction leaves a traceable record from start to finish, improving reconciliation and boosting confidence in government revenue processes. Businesses operating across different regulatory agencies will benefit from standardised receipts that reduce disputes and simplify compliance.
By merging TSA, GIFMIS, CBN, NIBSS, FIRS and other platforms into RevOp, government will—for the first time—have a unified, accurate source of revenue data. This will enhance forecasting, improve policy decisions and allow quicker responses when revenue performance drops.
Automated controls will also reduce discretionary powers previously held by frontline officers—one of the root causes of corruption in revenue collection.
Officials say the shift to digital, system-based processes will improve transparency, reduce waste and strengthen public trust.
For citizens who have long grappled with inconsistent receipts, unexpected charges and opaque processes, the reforms promise clarity, accountability and smoother interactions with government agencies.
The administration has described these changes as critical to strengthening economic governance, boosting non-oil revenue and aligning Nigeria with global best practices in public financial management.
Though MDAs will need to retrain staff, upgrade systems and replace outdated procedures, experts argue that the benefits far outweigh the transition challenges.
“This is one of the most comprehensive finance reforms Nigeria has seen in years. It will improve revenue, minimise leakages and promote transparency,” said Ike Ibeabuchi, an emerging markets analyst.
