2026 mid-year review: Kaduna revenue agency records major shortfall

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, KADIRS, has acknowledged significant shortfalls in Direct Assessment collections across various jurisdictions, prompting the agency to order an aggressive tax drive in the second half of 2026.

The disclosure was made during KADIRS’ 2026 mid-year revenue performance review, where management assessed the agency’s performance across its revenue streams and identified operational gaps affecting collections.

The meeting, presided over by the Acting Executive Chairman of KADIRS, Mohammed Lawal, was attended by senior management officials and 36 Area Revenue Officers, AROs.

While management noted positive results in some revenue streams, it expressed concern over what it described as significant shortfalls in Direct Assessment, DA, collections across several jurisdictions.

Mr Lawal subsequently directed the AROs to intensify efforts to improve revenue generation and take full ownership of their respective tax jurisdictions.

He ordered all area offices to aggressively re-adopt on-the-spot tax assessment as a strategy for expanding the tax net and addressing the shortfall in Direct Assessment collections.

The acting chairman also directed the officers to identify untapped economic activities and taxpayers within their jurisdictions, while developing specific action plans to improve collections.

The plans are expected to cover taxpayer education, enumeration, systematic follow-ups, intelligence-driven engagements and structured enforcement.

According to Lawal, the measures are aimed at expanding the state’s tax base, improving voluntary compliance and ensuring that statutory revenue targets are achieved.

He urged the revenue officers to be proactive and innovative in their jurisdictions, stressing the need for effective monitoring and sustained engagement with taxpayers.

Mr Lawal also emphasised teamwork and professionalism among the officers as part of efforts to strengthen the agency’s revenue collection capacity.

The review comes as state governments across the country continue to place greater emphasis on internally generated revenue amid growing fiscal pressures and the need to reduce dependence on federal allocations.

Meanwhile, the meeting featured a farewell ceremony for the retiring Director of ARO Coordination, Ishaku Mazangona.

Mr Mazangona thanked the management and staff for their support during his years of service and urged his colleagues to maintain professionalism, teamwork and institutional integrity.

Responding, Lawal commended the retiring director for his contributions to the development of KADIRS and described his service and leadership as valuable to the agency.

He assured staff that management remained committed to their welfare and would continue to leverage the experience of senior personnel in strengthening the agency’s operations.

The mid-year review, according to KADIRS, was part of efforts to improve revenue administration and boost collections across the state during the remaining months of the 2026 fiscal year.