On Monday, the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) inaugurated a joint revenue committee to enable it to realise the N120 billion revenue target set by Governor Uba Sani.

The committee comprises chairs of the 23 local government councils and representatives of various ministries, departments, and agencies in the state.

The committee is headed by the executive chairman of the KADIRS, with the board secretary and legal advisor of the service serving as joint secretaries.

Inaugurating the committee, the executive chairman of the KADIRS, Jerry Adams, said the inauguration was in line with sections 47 and 48 of the Kaduna State Codification and Consolidation Tax Law of 2020.

Mr Adams said Kaduna State, like many others, faced fiscal pressures and demands for increased investment in critical infrastructure, social services, and economic empowerment initiatives.

The executive chairman said the inauguration of the committee marked a significant milestone in serving efforts to strengthen revenue mobilisation and drive sustainable development in the state.

“The joint committee will work strictly according to the dictates of the law and will serve as a focal point for strategic planning, policy formulation, and coordination of revenue generation activities across the state.

“They will play a pivotal role in providing guidance and oversight within their respective domains, ensuring that our revenue generation activities are aligned with the specific needs and priorities of each sector.

“Their (members) inclusion reflects our commitment to fostering collaboration and cooperation across all levels of government as we strive towards our shared goal of advancing the economic prosperity of Kaduna State,” Mr Adams said.

Mr Adams appealed to the citizens to be tax compliant to reap the benefits while restating the KADIRS commitment to tackling tax leakages and punishing officials operating outside the law.

Also, the legal adviser and secretary of KADIRS, Aisha Muhammad, said the committee shall be autonomous of the council treasury and responsible for the day-to-day administration of the local government revenue or personnel that form its assessment team in liaison with the service.

Also speaking, the special adviser to Mr Sani on economic matters, Ibrahim Muhammad, said the state could generate more than the N120 billion naira revenue target set by the governor.

He regretted that, when compared with the first quarter of the previous year, KADIRS was behind in its revenue target.

Mr Muhammad, therefore, urged the committee members and all other stakeholders to work hard and be committed to the realisation of the set target.

Earlier in his remarks, the state’s Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Mukhtar Ahmed, urged the KADIRS to diligently carry out its task, adding that “agents and other stakeholders in tax collection are easily compromised.”

(NAN).