Kaduna State topped the chart as the state with the highest Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the Northern region, generating a whopping N62.48 billion in 2023. This is a significant increase over the previous year when N58 billion was generated.
A recent report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlights the resilience of the state in terms of revenue generation and economic challenges.
Commenting on the revenue performance, Executive Chairman, Kaduna State Revenue Board, Mr. Jerry Adams, noted that Governor Uba Sani-led financial inclusion and tax net expansion policies, as well as the overall restructuring of services, have resulted in the growth of Kaduna State’s domestic revenue. Adams noted that it was not surprising that Kaduna State was ranked as the highest revenue generating sub-national state by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for 2023, attributing the achievement to Governor Uba Sani who automated the tax administration in Kaduna State and provided working tools to expedite the process.
Kaduna State Tax Innovations
According to him, KADIRS now has a centralized tax payment portal called “Pay Kaduna Portal” that allows citizens to pay their taxes from anywhere without having to come to the tax office in person. “This automation has reduced leakages in the system. By simply clicking on the relevant tax icon, taxpayers can pay withholding tax, stamp duty, etc,” Adams said.
The Executive Chairman also noted that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has expanded the tax network in Kaduna State without increasing taxes. He added that unlike the past vertical approach that led to stagnation, KADIRS has been expanding its tax network horizontally since July last year.
The Executive Chairman of KADIRS also stressed that the overall policies of the Kaduna State Government have contributed greatly to the improvement of the IGR. “There is a human touch to the policies of the Uba Sani administration which has attracted the return of businesses and enterprises that have left Kaduna State in the past. Moreover, he has introduced many business-friendly measures which have positively impacted revenue generation,” he said.
Adams also noted that the Kaduna State Government’s rural reforms have improved voluntary tax compliance “because people can see where their money is being spent.” “Our motto is ‘tax for service’ and the current government has proven this through the commendable projects it has undertaken in the areas of road construction, building new schools and other projects,” the KADIRS chief said.
The Executive Chairman urged the people of Kaduna State to pay their taxes especially property tax and land leases on time, adding that businesses should also pay ad valorem taxes promptly.He said given the support from the Governor, KADIRS had the potential to improve tax collection and increase IGR in Kaduna State.
