By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Revenue Agency has launched a community outreach campaign in collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform and Prime Initiative for Community Development and Fiscal Transparency to boost internal revenue generation.
A statement issued in Dutse by Executive Director of Prime Initiative, Muhammad Abdu Dutse disclosed that the campaign which began last week, has covered six major markets across the state. 
The initiative aims to educate traders, community leaders, women, youth, and other stakeholders on tax compliance while fostering trust between taxpayers and tax authorities.
Key highlights of the campaign included direct engagements with market participants, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to share their concerns and discuss ways to improve their businesses and tax remittances.
“Over 600 participants attended the outreach across the six markets, with shop-to-shop engagements ensuring inclusivity.
Out of 54 grievances recorded, 34 were resolved on-site within an average time of 30 minutes,” the statement revealed.
The initiative emphasized the importance of transparency in tax collection, with participants gaining insights into their tax obligations, the developmental impact of taxes, and how to access Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) services. Many stakeholders also expressed the need for improved infrastructure, including better market facilities, to enhance tax compliance.
“This outreach has significantly strengthened trust and transparency between the government and taxpayers. By engaging directly with communities, we are laying a foundation for sustainable revenue generation and improved public service delivery in Jigawa State,” Muhammad Abdu Dutse stated.
Market leaders also praised the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable tax system. The Market Leader of Maigatari Market noted, “Face-to-face engagement and immediate grievance resolution have helped us better understand how taxes are utilized.”
Participants recommended that the Jigawa State government adopt a “tax-for-service” model to increase accountability and compliance.
They urged the government to implement policies that address citizens’ immediate needs and foster a conducive environment for tax payments.
The markets visited so far include Hadejia, Gujungu, Sara, Maigatari, and Shuwari.