From BEN AUTA, Kaduna
Tax compliance in Kaduna State has risen from about 30 percent to nearly 80 percent under the present administration, according to the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Mr. Jerry Adams.
Adams disclosed this when the leadership of the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, paid a courtesy visit to the management of the revenue service at its headquarters.
He attributed the increase in compliance to growing public confidence in government, saying taxpayers were more willing to fulfil their obligations because of visible development projects and prudent management of public resources.
“The governor has done so much that we have moved our compliance level from about 30-something percent to nearly 80 percent. People are paying because they can see what their taxes are being used for,” he said.
Adams described Governor Uba Sani’s administration as people-centred and driven by fairness and inclusiveness.
“Governor Uba Sani’s administration is a government with a human face. His inclusive policies and commitment to fairness have earned the trust of the people, and that confidence is reflected in the willingness of citizens to pay taxes,” he said.
He said the government had adopted dialogue and voluntary compliance as its approach to tax administration, rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
“It is not everything that should be resolved through punishment. Where someone defaults, we encourage compliance, payment of the necessary penalties and regularisation instead of adopting extreme measures,” he said.
Adams said the state inherited significant financial obligations, making improved internally generated revenue essential for effective governance.
He expressed confidence that Kaduna State could achieve its target of generating ₦20 billion in monthly internally generated revenue if ongoing reforms were sustained.
“Our target is ₦20 billion monthly. It is ambitious but achievable, and we will continue working towards that goal,” he added.
Earlier, Chairman of the NUJ Kaduna State Council, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, commended the reforms introduced at KADIRS, saying they had significantly improved revenue generation.
According to him, the state’s monthly internally generated revenue has increased from about ₦4 billion in 2023 to approximately ₦9 billion under the current management.
“We have observed the reforms introduced by the chairman, which have transformed the revenue service.
“Within about two to three years, monthly internally generated revenue has grown from around ₦4 billion to about ₦9 billion,” Alabelewe said.
He called for stronger collaboration between KADIRS and the media to deepen public understanding of tax reforms and revenue generation.