Kaduna seeks to expand tax base without raising taxes on existing taxpayers
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day Nigeria
Kaduna State’s revenue service wants to expand the number of taxpayers and digitise tax administration to increase domestic revenue, without increasing the burden on those who already pay taxes. The strategy is based in particular on Nigerian tax laws that came into force on 1 January 2026, according to Kaduna Finance Commissioner Ibrahim Muhammad.
Kaduna State wants to increase tax revenue by expanding the number of taxpayers rather than raising the burden on those who already pay, Finance Commissioner Ibrahim Muhammad said at a quarterly stakeholder meeting in Kaduna on Thursday, Business Day Nigeria reports.
The strategy also provides for digital tax administration and improved compliance. It is based on Nigeria’s 2025 Tax Act and 2025 Tax Administration Act, which came into force on 1 January 2026. Muhammad cited taxpayer identification, reliable data and the integration of public revenue records among the priorities.
The commissioner asked the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) to develop electronic filing and payment and better inform taxpayers about reliefs and exemptions, particularly those for low-income people and small businesses. He also stressed the protection of personal data, the handling of complaints and fair enforcement of the rules.
This approach is being announced as Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has defended borrowing despite the burden of debt servicing, in a statement on borrowing published on 30 October 2026.
