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Northern Revenue Conference:  Gov. Yusuf tasks Northern states on collaborative tax reforms

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Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has called on Northern states to strengthen collaboration in implementing tax reforms and digital transformation to boost revenue generation and ensure sustainable development.

Yusuf made the call on Wednesday at the second day of 2025 Northern Revenue Conference held in Kano.

The conference, with the theme “Readiness, Reforms, and Digital Transformation,” brought together policymakers, fiscal experts, and revenue administrators from across the northern states to discuss emerging trends in tax administration.

Represented by the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Alhaji Musa Shanono, the Governor said effective revenue management remained central to good governance and economic growth.

He said his administration had prioritised fiscal reforms and digital innovation to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public finance.

Yusuf commended the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) for its progress under the leadership of Dr. Zaid Abubakar, describing it as a model for other states to emulate.

He said the enactment of the 2025 Nigerian Tax Laws had ushered in a new era in the country’s fiscal policy, encouraging states to embrace innovation and technology in tax administration.

Yusuf added, “The new framework compels us to think more strategically, collaborate more effectively and act more decisively.

“We must expand our fiscal frontiers beyond traditional boundaries and harness the potential of the informal sector, SMEs, and the growing digital economy.”

He emphasised integrity and accountability as the foundation of effective governance, saying:

“Integrity is fundamental in whatever we do. When it is missing, energy and intelligence are wasted,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Dr Zaid Abubakar, has called on state revenue agencies to embrace digital innovations and institutional reforms to enhance efficiency and transparency in tax administration.

He said the era of manual processes and guesswork in tax administration had passed, stressing the need for precision, digital competence and strong leadership in driving fiscal reforms.

“The 2025 reform agenda requires us to be strategic, data-driven and technology-oriented.

“The era of guesswork in tax administration is over. We must move towards systems that ensure accountability, accuracy and convenience for taxpayers,” he said.

The KIRS Chairman urged participants to use the conference as a platform to share ideas, strengthen collaboration and build networks that would promote a more efficient and taxpayer-friendly revenue system across the northern states.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to continue investing in digital transformation and capacity building to support sustainable revenue growth and fiscal stability

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KIRS seeks wider tax compliance to boost Kano revenue

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The Executive Chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), Alhaji Bashir Maitama has urged taxpayers to pay their taxes correctly and as when due.

Maitama made the call while speaking in Kano on Wednesday during the Customer Service Week of the service.

He said the celebration provided an opportunity for the agency to appreciate taxpayers for their contributions to the development of the state.

The chairman described taxpayers as important stakeholders whose contributions were valued by the agency and the state government.

Maitama said KIRS’ digital tax platforms had made tax payment easier, adding that the agency was committed to resolving challenges experienced by taxpayers.

He urged taxpayers facing difficulties with the platforms to contact the agency for prompt assistance.

On revenue performance, the chairman said KIRS had recorded significant improvement in its collections and expressed confidence that it would meet the revenue target set by the state government.

He said the agency would continue to promote voluntary compliance and expand the tax net by bringing more eligible taxpayers into the system.

“There are many people doing businesses who are not yet in the tax net. We want to ensure that more taxpayers are captured and encouraged to comply voluntarily,” he said.

The chairman explained that the digitization of KIRS operations was aimed at blocking revenue leakages, improving transparency and simplifying tax payment.

He said the agency would continue to adopt technology to improve efficiency, revenue collection and service delivery.

Maitama, therefore, urged taxpayers to fulfil their tax obligations promptly and correctly.

Earlier, The Executive Director, Revenue Operations, (KIRS), Kasim Ismael urged taxpayers to pay their taxes correctly and as when due, describing tax payment as essential to the development of the state.

He said taxes were an important source of revenue for the government to provide essential services, maintain institutions and promote peace and development.

The executive director also called for improved cooperation between the agency and taxpayers to strengthen compliance and revenue generation in the state.

Speaking also, Mr Michael Daniel, who spoke on behalf of the customers, said that taxpayers appreciated the efforts of KIRS in improving its services and strengthening its relationship with taxpayers.

He urged the agency to sustain its commitment to transparency, professionalism and efficient service delivery, saying improved customer service would encourage more people to comply with their tax obligations.

 

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Milo intervention empowers Kano tea sellers with business tools

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The Nestlé Milo Mai Shayi empowerment programme has continued to receive commendation from stakeholders in Kano, with beneficiaries describing the initiative as a major boost to their small-scale businesses.

The programme, aimed at supporting tea sellers with business tools and resources, provided participants with items including gas cookers, cups and other materials to enhance their daily operations.

Speaking during the programme in Kano, Kannywood actor, Yusuf Sulaiman Bosho, said the initiative would contribute to the growth of tea-selling businesses and improve the livelihoods of operators.

Bosho noted that many small businesses require support to expand, adding that providing essential working tools would encourage beneficiaries to increase productivity.

“Supporting them with tools such as gas cookers, cups and ingredients is really a motivation in their day-to-day businesses,” he said.

He urged other corporate organisations to emulate Nestlé Milo by introducing similar interventions that would support small businesses across the country.

Also speaking, Milo Ambassador, Mansura Isa, said the programme demonstrated the company’s commitment to supporting its customers, particularly those engaged in small-scale enterprises.

Isa encouraged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the materials provided to improve their businesses and create more opportunities within their communities.

She added that more initiatives were being planned by the company to support customers across Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

The Category Manager of Nestlé Milo, Mr Gilbert Teenaboah Koduah, said the company would continue to invest in programmes that promote socio-economic development among its customers.

Koduah explained that the intervention was part of efforts by the company to strengthen businesses and contribute to economic growth at the community level.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our Correspondent expressed appreciation to Nestlé Milo for the support, saying the items would help them improve their services and increase their earnings.

They pledged to continue patronising the company’s products while maximising the opportunity provided through the empowerment programme.

The event featured the presentation of tea-selling equipment and other gifts to participants.

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New Kano revenue boss pledges open drive

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The newly appointed executive chairman, Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) Alhaji Bashir Maitama, has pledged to strengthen revenue generation through transparency, accountability, teamwork and innovation.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Head, Corporate Communications of KIRS, Aisha Maigiwa, on Tuesday in Kano.

The statement said the new chairman formally assumed office on Monday, July 20, 2026, following a handover ceremony from the Acting Executive Chairman, Mallam Muhammad Abba Aliyu.

Welcoming Maitama, Aliyu, who is also the Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement Group, prayed for God’s guidance and wisdom for the new chairman.

He urged members of staff to give the new leadership maximum support and cooperation towards sustaining the growth of internally generated revenue in the state.

In his inaugural remarks, Maitama expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the opportunity to lead the agency, describing his assumption of office as a historic moment.

He appreciated Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf for finding him worthy of the appointment, assuring the governor and people of Kano State of his commitment to delivering on the mandate entrusted to him.

The chairman said he was delighted to join a team of professionals who had contributed immensely to the progress of the Service.

He commended his predecessor for his efforts in strengthening KIRS, saying history would recognise his contributions to the development of the agency.

Maitama also appreciated the Service’s technical partner, Manam Professional Services, for its support towards the transformation of KIRS.

He described his appointment as a collective responsibility and called on management and staff to work together to achieve the objectives of the Service.

The new chairman assured workers of an open, transparent and inclusive leadership style anchored on accountability, teamwork and innovation.

He identified achieving revenue targets, expanding the tax net and deepening the state’s tax base as key priorities of his administration.

Maitama expressed confidence that the targets set for KIRS were achievable, urging staff to embrace creative ideas and innovative solutions in carrying out their responsibilities.

He added that his office would remain open to constructive suggestions and meaningful contributions from staff.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Revenue Operations Group, Mallam Kassim Ismail, expressed confidence in Maitama’s ability to lead the Service to greater heights.

He pledged the support of his directorate towards achieving the mandate of KIRS.

The event ended with the formal handover of leadership from the Acting Executive Chairman to the newly appointed Executive Chairman.

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