Pulse.ng : KADIRS commits to revolutionising tax reforms for enhanced revenue generation

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) Mr Jerry Adams, has pledged to leverage the national tax reform to enhance revenue generation in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tax reform recognises State Internal Revenue Services as sole collectors of state revenues, removing ambiguities and duplication.

Speaking at an annual stakeholders’ engagement on Wednesday in Kaduna, Adams said KADIRS would build a people-centered tax system.

The theme of the years’ engagement was: ‘Tax Reforms: Pathways to Enhanced Revenues Through Stakeholders Engagement,
Voluntary Compliance and System Integration’.

He stated that the agency was working to optimise revenue sources, especially in hard-to-reach areas, adding that partnerships with private sector and development partners were yielding impressive outcomes.

The executive chairman said that the ‘PAYKADUNA Portal, which centralises and streamlines state payments, had helped in promoting transparency and efficiency.

“KADIRS is empowered to gather and interpret tax intelligence, combining technology and strategy.

“The agency will build better systems to collect and analyze data,”he said.

Adams explained that the stakeholders’ engagement event was a platform for ideas and reforms, restating KADIRS’ commitment to dialogue, reform, and delivering results.

The goal, Adams said, was to create a fair and equitable tax system that promote investment, stressing that the service was working with stakeholders to achieve the goal.

He appreciated taxpayers’ patience and contribution to the state’s development, adding that KADIRS aims to deliver results that citizens can see and feel.

In a goodwill message, the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, described the engagement as critical for fostering open dialogue and collaboration.

The commissioner aligned with the tax reforms, emphasising voluntary compliance, taxpayer education, and trust-building measures.

He stated that the reforms represented a new social contract between the government and the citizens.

Tanko said that the goal was to create a tax environment that was fair, predictable, and supportive of economic growth, restating the state government’s to the vision.

The commissioner encouraged all the participants to be active drivers of the reform journey, working together to build a more efficient, equitable, and inclusive tax system.

“This system will support the aspirations of the people and strengthen the foundation of shared prosperity,”he said.

Earlier, the KADIRS Executive Director, Standard and Compliance, Alhaji Ali Gora, said that the meeting sought to bridge the gap between policy and practice through dialogue and collaboration.

Gora stated that the goal was to build a tax culture founded on mutual trust, responsibility, and the greater good.

“KADIRS aims to unlock the full potential of internally generated revenue for sustainable development.

“The engagement reflects the collective commitment to promoting fairness and accountability in tax administration,”he said .

He urged the stakeholders to work together towards a tax system that works for everyone.

Gora restated KADIRS’ commitment to transparency, efficiency, and integrated systems, adding that the service was dedicated to making the state’s tax administration a model for others.

Stakeholders in the engagement included firms, businesses, Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Bar Association, Tax Justice and Governance Platform, among others.

They emphasised the importance of fair and just taxation.

They stressed that taxes were crucial for governments to provide essential public goods and services.

The stakeholders highlighted the need for accurate data to inform tax laws and policies, automation of tax collection to reduce revenue leakages, and transparency and accountability in tax administration.

They also emphasised the importance of implementing fair and equitable taxation, adhering to principles such as progressivity, neutrality, and value for taxpayers’ money.

Furthermore, they called for proper regulation of tax collection, particularly at the local government level, and the abolition of arm-twisting and unconventional practices in tax collection, encouraging citizen participation and tax compliance through education and awareness.(NAN)