We Are Confident in Interswitch’s Capability to Implement the New Digital Revenue Collection Policy in Lagos – Gov. Ambode
Following the announcement by the Lagos State Government on February 19 2018, that from the 1st of March 2018, Lagos State revenue collection will be fully digitized, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in a recent statement issued by Interswitch revealed that the government’s vision is to actualize extensive adoption of electronic channels in the payment of taxes, levies and other government payments.
In his words, “to ensure that the government improves on the quality of service delivery to our people, effective 1st March 2018, no payment or taxes will be made by cash henceforth across the State. Tax payers should be able to pay all legitimate taxes and bills through all payment channels at their own time and convenience. The transaction process is now going to be everyday, anytime and on weekends.”
It was revealed that this full digitization will be made possible through a partnership with Interswitch.
Elucidating further on what informed the Lagos State Government’s resolution to partner with Interswitch to digitize payments and collections in Lagos, Governor Ambode added that;
“Interswitch has been at the forefront of efficient and secure public sector payments and collections at National and State levels for quite a while now, and we are confident in their ability to provide strong support and the state-of-the-art payment infrastructure, comparable to such obtainable anywhere in the world as well as the capabilities required to facilitate seamless implementation of this policy in a state like Lagos.”
Commenting on the announcement, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe expressed Interswitch’s commitment to providing omni-channel payment infrastructure which will facilitate seamless transaction processes in revenue collection to make it easy and convenient for the good people of Lagos who can now pay every day, any time and online.
“Over the last few years, we have invested extensively in building and continuously developing a variety of payment channels which facilitate real-time transaction through any means desirable by all parties within the payment process. Our vision at Interswitch is an Africa where payment becomes a seamless part of our everyday lives, and we are resolutely committed to working with Lagos State to embrace a fully digital future, in line with our resolve to continue to create digital transaction solutions that enable individuals and communities prosper across Africa.”
In view of this partnership with the LASG, government payments will now be possible through multiple channels including physical payments in any branch of any bank, and using Interswitch solutions such as Interswitch Paydirect, Interswitch Payment Gateway, Quickteller Paypoint, and Mobile Apps/USSD codes of LASG MDAs, thereby encouraging real-time cashless payments directly to the State Treasury.
Observers have lauded this development as a welcome breakthrough in public sector finance, accountability and service-delivery as it essentially underscores the unwavering and forward-thinking dynamism of the Lagos State Government, with effective public-private collaboration at its heart.
