If you are bidding for federal government contracts in Nigeria, an ITF Compliance Certificate is not optional — it sits alongside PENCOM and NSITF compliance as a standard tender requirement. Here is how to get one.
Step 1: Complete ITF Form 7A
Available on the ITF website, Form 7A captures your corporate information and payroll details. Accuracy matters here — the payroll figures you declare determine your assessed contribution.
Step 2: Gather Supporting Documents
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Audited accounts
- Tax Clearance Certificate
- Payroll records supporting your declared figures
Step 3: Assessment
ITF Revenue, Inspectorate and Compliance Officers assess your contribution liability based on your submitted payroll information. If you have been operating above the threshold without contributing in prior years, this assessment may cover outstanding periods.
Step 4: Payment
Pay the assessed contribution through the ITF Pay-portal or Remitta, then submit proof of payment. The contribution is 1% of total annual payroll.
Step 5: Certificate Issuance
Once payment is confirmed, you receive your ITF National Number and Certificate of Compliance — the document tender processes actually ask for.
Timing Matters for Tenders
Do not start this process the week a tender closes. Assessment and certificate issuance take time, and if prior-year contributions need reconciling, that adds further delay. Businesses that intend to bid for government work should get compliant well ahead of any specific opportunity.
Keeping the Certificate Valid
Compliance is not permanent — contributions are annual, so maintaining a valid certificate means continuing to remit within the first quarter of each year rather than treating the first certificate as a one-time achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get an ITF Compliance Certificate?
It depends on assessment turnaround and whether prior-year contributions need reconciling — starting well before you need it is the practical advice.
Do I need an ITF certificate for state government contracts too?
Requirements vary by contracting authority — confirm the specific tender requirements, though ITF compliance is standard for federal contracts.
What if I have not contributed for previous years?
The assessment process may cover outstanding periods, so expect to reconcile past contributions as part of becoming compliant.
Does the certificate expire?
Compliance is tied to ongoing annual contributions, so maintaining valid status requires continuing to remit each year.
Need your ITF certificate for a tender?
Lifehampers Global Consults handles ITF registration and compliance certificates — get a free consultation or see our ITF Registration service.