The Abia State Government is set to re-launch the Abia State Social Identification Number (ABSSIN) initiative on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, aimed at enhancing social protection and inclusion for citizens.
During a pre re-launch press conference at Government House Umuahia, The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing Journalists at Government House Umuahia.
Prince Okey Kanu
He highlighted the initiative’s alignment with Governor Alex Otti’s commitment to improving citizen welfare, underscored the government’s dedication to strategic planning and execution in uplifting living standards of the people.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, emphasized the significance of ABSSIN as a data source for economic planning and accessing social benefits and highlight it’s role in reaching residents for emergency response and service delivery.
“With this initiative, the focus of the government is to make sure that many people, not just citizens of Abia per say , all those who reside in Abia, those who live here and pay their taxes here will be able to register and once you register, all your information situated in that platform becomes easier to reach you, whether it is for emergency or whatever.
Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mr. Chimeremeze Okigbo noted that the government wants to be intentional about economic planning and said that the ABSSIN which is registered free of charge would help in physical security of the people living in the State.
Also, the Chairman of Abia State Internal Revenue Services (ABIRS), Prof. Udochukwu Ogbonna, pointed out the universality of ABSSIN, describing it as the “account number” of every citizen in the state.
Prof. Ogbonna outlined its benefits, including facilitating tax payments, accessing government benefits, and scholarships.
He encouraged citizens to register online via Abiapay or at any BIR office or Ministry, underscoring the initiative’s accessibility and utility in streamlining government-citizen interactions.
