Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.
Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, has attributed the sharp increase in tax compliance across the state to Governor Uba Sani’s inclusive style of governance, saying taxpayers’ confidence in government has risen because of visible development projects and prudent management of public resources.
Adams disclosed this while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, at the KADIRS headquarters in Kaduna.
According to him, tax compliance in the state has increased from about 30 per cent to nearly 80 per cent under the present administration, describing the governor’s leadership as people-centred and driven by fairness, peace and inclusivity.
“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,” Adams said.
He explained that taxpayers were responding positively because they could see tangible results of their contributions through investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and other critical sectors.
“The governor has done so much that we have moved our compliance level from about 30-something per cent to nearly 80 per cent. People are paying because they can see what their taxes are being used for,” he said.
Adams also credited the administration with promoting peaceful coexistence across religious and ethnic divides, noting that issues of segregation had reduced significantly.
“People are no longer talking about religious segregation. What they demand now is fairness, and that is what this administration is providing,” he said.
He added that Governor Sani had continued to demonstrate respect for all communities, including Southern Kaduna, as well as traditional institutions across the state.
The KADIRS chairman further said workers now enjoy greater job security under the current administration.
“For a long time now, workers are no longer living in fear of arbitrary dismissal. Job security is guaranteed, and that has improved morale within the public service,” he stated.
Adams said the government now emphasises voluntary compliance and dialogue rather than punitive enforcement in tax administration.
“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.
He acknowledged Governor Sani’s support for the revenue agency, saying the administration had provided the political backing needed to implement reforms aimed at strengthening internally generated revenue.
According to him, Kaduna State inherited significant financial obligations, making improved revenue generation essential for effective governance.
He also dismissed speculations linking him to higher political office, insisting that his focus remained on improving the performance of KADIRS.
“My assignment is to serve as Executive Chairman of KADIRS, and I remain fully committed to that responsibility. I am 100 per cent loyal to Governor Uba Sani, and everything we do is aimed at ensuring the success of his administration,” he said.
Adams expressed confidence that the state could attain a monthly internally generated revenue target of N20 billion if ongoing reforms were sustained.
“Our target is N20 billion monthly. It is ambitious but achievable, and we will continue working towards that goal,” he added.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, commended Adams for the reforms introduced at KADIRS, saying they had significantly improved revenue generation.
He noted that Kaduna State’s monthly internally generated revenue had increased from about N4 billion in 2023 to approximately N9 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 N4 billion to about N9 billion,” Alabelewe said.
He appealed for stronger collaboration between KADIRS and the media to enhance public understanding of tax reforms and revenue generation, expressing confidence that such partnership would support the state’s drive towards achieving its N20 billion monthly revenue target.
