By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Internal Revenue Service (JIRS) has announced a major breakthrough in revenue collection, generating over ₦8 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone — a significant leap from previous records.
This was disclosed by the JIRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Nasiru Saboda, during a media chat at the opening of a two-day Town Hall and Capacity Building Workshop for civil society organisations and market groups, held at the Manpower Development Institute, Dutse.
The event was organised by Prime Initiative and the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, with support from Christian Aid and CISLAC.
Dr. Saboda attributed the record performance to Governor Umar Namadi’s consistent backing, as well as new innovations introduced by the board — especially the full-scale digitalization of revenue collection across the state.
“Thanks to the commitment of Governor Namadi and the strategies we’ve adopted, JIRS generated over ₦8 billion in just three months — and over ₦3 billion in April alone,” Saboda said. “This is a huge improvement compared to the first quarter of last year.”
He noted that the reforms have not only increased transparency and efficiency but also improved taxpayer compliance and trust.
While declaring the workshop open, Dr. Saboda commended the organisers for empowering stakeholders to better understand tax systems and hold revenue authorities accountable.
He reaffirmed the government’s readiness to implement all tax-related agreements signed with development partners, including reforms that promote accountability and fairness in taxation.
Speaking earlier, Comrade Muhammad Abdu Dutse, Executive Director of Prime Initiative, said the workshop was part of efforts to bridge the communication gap between tax authorities and the public.
“The goal is to equip CSOs and market groups with the knowledge to engage meaningfully on tax-for-service agreements and advocate for fair, transparent, and effective tax systems,” he explained.
Comrade Dutse added that the platform would help boost public confidence in tax governance by enhancing dialogue, accountability, and service delivery linked to tax compliance.
The workshop is expected to provide a roadmap for improving taxpayer-government relations and making taxation a tool for inclusive development.
