Otti to re-launch ABSSIN citizens’ welfare 

From Boniface Okoro,  Umuahia 

The Abia State Government says it would re-launch the Abia State Social Identification Number (ABSSIN) come Saturday, March 2, 2024.

The scheme which will see every citizen and residents of Abia register in one account would help to generate data for proper planning and development, according to top government officials.

While the Chairman of Abia State Board Internal Revenue (BIR), Prof Udochukwu Ogbonna, said the scheme previously initiated in July 2021 by the Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration, would help to improve welfare of the citizens, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Kingsley Anosike, added that it would help to generate data for proper planning.

At a pre-launch Press Briefing at Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia, on Thursday, Prof. Ogbonna explained that ABSSIN would generate the number with which each citizen of the state would do any form of transactions with the state government.

Prof. Ogbonna said: “The Governor will be relaunching Abia State Social Identification Number (ABSSIN) on Saturday. What it means is that every Abian is supposed to have this number: when you are paying your tax, you are supposed to quote this number.  What that means is that every transaction you are doing in the state will come under one account, that is to say that ABSSIN is the account number of every citizen in Abia State.

“When you want to access social benefits, you quote that number, that will help government to know where you are coming from. Whether you are from Arochukwu or from Ukwa, ABSSIN will identify  you to know that you are from Abia State. That will enable the state to help you have access to those social benefits.

“ABSSIN is not only for tax payment, it will help you to have access to certain benefits that are coming from government which includes scholarship. If your children are applying for scholarship, of course, you are supposed to be a citizen of Abia State, that citizenship will have to be reflected in the registration of ABSSIN.

“So, ABSSIN is not something from the blues, you can be registered online. We have the Abiapay online, you can go there and register, it is very seamless.

“If you find it difficult registering online, you can come to any office of the Board of Internal Revenue in all the local governments to register. You can also go to any of the ministries to register. So, it is easy to get ABSSIN. Once you register and it goes through, you will get your number and you quote that number in every transaction you will do with the state. Every citizen of the state is supposed to get his or her ABSSIN for ease of reference.”

He stressed that the re-launch was to demonstrate the seriousness government attached to the scheme.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, said that ABSSIN would form the source of data for economic planning, adding that it would become a data base for accessing social benefits from the State. 

Mr. Anosike further explained that:

“With this initiative, the focus of the  government to make sure that many people, not just citizens of Abia per se but all those who  reside in Abia, 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, whatever it is.”

Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mr. Chimeremeze Okigbo, emphasized that the government wants to be intentional about economic planning and said that ABSSIN which is registered free of charge would help in physical security of the people living in the State. 

Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, had said that the Initiative speaks to the efforts of Governor Alex Otti in improving the welfare of the people. 

Kanu noted that the Abia State Social Identification Number being relaunched by Governor Alex Otti-led administration would enhance the  social protection and inclusion of Abians and Abia residents  

 “The government is taking this issue very seriously. This government has been very intentional in its plans, very strategic in execution of its plans and very determined to enhance living standards of Abians and Abia residents across board,” he said.

Prince Kanu noted that government has recorded many achievements in all sectors of economy  in the last nine months, assuring that government was poised to do even more, stating  that at the outset, government focused on some areas of governance and declared a state of emergency in all those areas and a lot of achievements have been recorded in those areas.