Connect with us

News

SOKOTO IGR YESTERDAY VS TODAY: PUTTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

Published

on

By Dr Basit Yusuf Alkali

“He who seeks equity must come with clean hands.” This is indeed, an old saying which will ever ring true in the affairs of mankind.

As an active stakeholder in the sector and an indigene of Sokoto State, my attention is drawn to a recent press statement issued by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to the State Governor, claiming that the previous administration of the immediate past government of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had not encouraged revenue generation. The statement was quoting a speech delivered by the State Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, at the latest Annual Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria in Abuja.

In submission at the forum, the Governor posited that his government met a discouraging taxation system with sharp practices in the collection and utilization of IGR,
claiming that he raised Sokoto State’s Internally Generated Revenue from a quarterly collection of N2.6 billion to N3.8 billion Naira as at the first Quarter of 2024.

I am an avid follower of developments in the revenue sector and I know from facts and data that this assertion is far from the truth and it is to say the least, improper for the Governor of a state to look his esteemed colleagues and other critical stakeholders in such an important issue as IGR, and make careless claims, that stand in the face of facts and figures on the ground.

I was aware that in February 2017 the previous administration dissolved the management of the then defunct Sokoto Board of Internal Revenue and replaced it with an interim management committee with the mandate to improve revenue collection, block all loopholes and create an avenue for professionalism in tandem with national and global best practices and standards.

Through measures to identify and blocking revenue loopholes, the committee was able to raise the revenue profile of the state, as captured by the Joint Tax Board, from a paltry sum of N4.5b in 2016 to over N9b by the end of 2017. And owing to the political will of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to reposition the revenue board, a law creating a new revenue service was initiated by the Government and subsequenty passed by the State House of Assembly in 2019, to review the revenue rates, automate revenue collection, abolish
cash collection, in-cooperate new agencies that were hitherto not captured in the system.

ALSO READ:  My Husband Wouldn’t Have Died If He Had Listened To Me - Betty Akeredolu

The new law provided for the appointment of a new Executive Chaiman with Executive Directors to pilot the affairs of the Service. Hence, there was significant improvement in adherence to national and International global practices.

Ahmed Aliyu should have told the gathering what they were more interested in, which is what exactly his administration is doing to boost IGR, rather than denying the achievements of his predecessor, which his audience know for a fact and quoting figures that all participants in the conference had a means of verifying as false. It is also grossly unfair for the Governor to bandy accusations of malpractice at an entire administration, without pointing to the specific “sharp practices” he was inferring to.

Using the facts to expose falsehood, verified Joint Tax Board (JTB) data proves that under Tambuwal’s government Sokoto State’s revenue collection rose from N9b in 2017, to N18b in 2018 and N19b in 2019. The fall in collection to N11b in 2020 was due to the effect of Covid-19 lockdown but the collection peaked to N23b in 2021 and 2022.

It is on record that order to reposition the new Sokoto Revenue Service, Tambuwal approved the employment of qualified indigenous university graduates, at least one from each of the 23 local governments of the state and a quota of at least 30% to females which was conducted through an examination and interview so as to engage the most competent personnel, with subsequent training and induction for both management and staff to equip them for the task.

The committee that organized that recruitment process was in fact, headed by Tambuwal’s and current Ahmed Aliyu’s Accountant General,
Umar Ahmed Tambuwal. Sadly, he is the head of the subsequent committee that messaged Ahmed Aliyu’s ego and misled him into making his false claims on the performance of the previous administration in revenue generation.

TambuwaI’s new revenue law also mandated the Revenue Service to collect revenues on behalf of the 23 local governments and remit same back to them, with a 5% fee as cost of collection to the Service. Under the law, full financial and administrative autonomy was granted to
the Service to eliminate the bureaucratic bottlenecks of the Civil Service.

ALSO READ:  Police detain 6 suspected Ambazonian separatists in Cross River

Sadly, Ahmed Aliyu’s government has all but reversed the achievements and spirit of the law by subjecting the revenue service (which has now resumed its pre-autonomy nomenclature of “revenue board”), to his absolute individual control in both collection and administration, in defiance of extant legislation.The revenue structure of Sokoto State is thus currently experiencing the most disorganized period in history, in which revenue is now being substantially collected and managed in cash, instead of the digital and online system that Tambuwal had earlier instituted to ensure efficiency, transparency and accountably.

The only enduring feature of the transformation of the revenue system recorded by the previous administration is its refurbished and completely modernized office accommodation at the Sokoto State Investment House. The permanent and benefiting edifice, which is under construction to provide a conducive accommodation for optimal effective service delivery, is abandoned by Ahmed Aliyu.

Other progressive innovations by the previous administration through which many new revenue sources were identified that now face disruption by the current government include:

Onion Collection: – Sokoto State is one of the highest producers of onions in Nigeria and by extension the African Continent, with the total trade volume of N250b per annum. Hence, a measure was introduced by the Tambuwal government, of a tripartite collection involving State and Local Governments and the unions/traditional institutions with the sharing formula of 40% to the State Government, 30%% to the Local Government, 20% to the Union and 10% to the traditional institutions.

Kabu – Kabu/Keke NAPEP Collection: A daily revenue collection of Kabu – Kabu / Keke NAPEP fees was introduced with an arrangement with the State Government and the Unions with a sharing formula of 60% to the
State Government and 40% to the unions and the introduction of POS machines for the collection of such fees.
Tertiary Institutions/Schools Collections: – All revenues collected by these sources were remitted to the bank through a dedicated automated
account, with a sharing formula of 80% going back to the schools, while 20% was retained as revenue to the government. This significantly improved the collection of
the schools and thus the revenue profile of the State.

These innovations accrued an average total revenue of N24b annually as at 2021 and 2022(JTB data), which by simple arithmetic, translates into an average quarterly collection of N6b and not N2.6b per quarter as erroneously reported by Ahmed Aliyu at the Abuja meeting.

ALSO READ:  BREAKING: Buhari Approves Indefinite Postponement Of Census

Considering these figures, how
could N3.8b IGR per quarter in 2024 be considered to be growth, under Ahmed Aliyu? Even so, the declarations ought to have been supported by facts on how that collection was made by his government. Rather than quoting off hand figures, he should have provided his audience with verifiable data to buttress his claims, because IGR is not a matter for political gimmicks and rhetoric.

It is obvious however, that the current Governor of Sokoto State views even the sacrosanct development issue of revenue generation as a subject for partisan dispute and acrimony. One of his earliest decisions on assuming office was to sack the entire management of the Sokoto Internal Revenue Service (SOIRS) even though that was in direct contravention of the extant Law establishing the body, which prescribes a specific term in office for such appointees.

As if the defiance of the law was not enough, Ahmed Aliyu proceeded to unilaterally appoint a new SOIRS Chairman who, the same law demands should be screened and cleared by the State House of Assembly before being sworn into office. By that fiat, the illegitimately renamed State Board of Internal Revenue is being run by a illegal Chairman and politically appointed Executive Directors, who lack the requisite professional credentials in tax administration and thus, the competence to help the Governor validate his consequently wishful claims on IGR in the state.

Unlike what currently obtains, the IGR figures during Tambuwal’s administration were corroborated by the ranking of Sokoto as number 17 among the 36 states in Nigeria in IGR performance for 2021 and 2022, with a total collection of N23.6b. Unlike political gimmicks, data and figures donot lie. And the performance of any government in the area of IGR is a matter that can only be proved by verifiable indices, rather than empty claims aimed at securing cheap popularity. If therefore, Ahmed Aliyu wishes to earn some credit in that area, he should do so with concrete, documented proof and a recourse to the best practices under the laws that are nationally and globally upheld.

Dr Basit Yusuf Alkali,
Sama Road,
Sokoto.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Kaduna’s $350m Loan Mess: 12 LGAs Sideline In El-Rufai’s Urban Renewal Projects

Published

on

By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

At least 12 local government areas in Kaduna State have reportedly been sidelined in the multi-million-dollar Urban Renewal Programme initiated by the immediate past administration of Nasir El-Rufai, despite ongoing repayments of a $350m World Bank loan secured for the project.

Stakeholders across the state have raised alarm over the alleged lopsided implementation of the infrastructural programme, with several communities in Southern and Central Kaduna lamenting neglect and abandonment.

Field investigations by Our Correspondent revealed that not a single kilometre of road has been completed in LGAs such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Ikara, Jaba, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kauru, Kudan, Makarfi, Sanga, Soba, and Zangon Kataf—some of the poorest and most underserved areas in the state.

Sources within the affected communities alleged that while construction flag-offs were conducted with fanfare, the projects never progressed beyond groundbreaking stages. In many instances, equipment was abandoned and contractors demobilised shortly after the ceremonies.

Transparency advocates and civil society organisations have described the situation as a gross injustice. Comrade Phelimon Andrew, a Zango-Kataf-based activist, called for a legislative probe into the programme.

“We can’t keep taking loans for political PR. The communities have a right to know where every dollar went,” Andrew said.

The World Bank facility, secured under the El-Rufai administration, was intended to fund the Urban Renewal Programme—a signature initiative aimed at modernising infrastructure across the state. However, critics say the implementation has been anything but inclusive.

Residents expressed frustration over deteriorating road conditions and failed promises. Musa Yakubu, a commercial motorcyclist in Sabo Tasha, said the abandoned roadworks have made commuting both costly and hazardous.

ALSO READ:  BREAKING: Body of former Governor Akeredolu arrives in Nigeria

“This road was supposed to be completed under El-Rufai’s administration. Now it’s just a dust trap in dry season and a muddy mess when it rains,” he lamented.

Similarly, Gimbiya Musa, who runs a shop near the stalled Television Garage–Sabo Tasha bridge, said her business has suffered a 50 per cent decline in sales due to low customer traffic.

In Zitti village, Zango Kataf LGA, residents reported that children now play on half-graded roads while open drains attract refuse dumps.

“It’s a constant reminder of a broken promise,” said Ezekiel Haruna, a community leader.

A school teacher in Kafanchan, Fatima Bello, added: “El-Rufai gave us hope that Kaduna would be transformed. What we got were potholes, dust storms and traffic chaos.”

Garba Habibu from Birnin Gwari, one of the hardest-hit LGAs, called on Governor Uba Sani to probe the previous administration.

“This administration must tell us the truth about what happened to the $350m World Bank loan. We deserve answers,” he said.

An insider within the state Ministry of Works, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that about 76 per cent of the projects were concentrated in Kaduna North Senatorial District, leaving Southern and Central zones with abandoned sites.

A youth leader in Kaura also criticised the unequal spread of development.

“How can we keep paying back a loan and have nothing to show for it?” he asked, citing the stalled Yarbwan–Kafanchan road as an example.

In Birnin Gwari, plagued by insecurity and poor road access, residents said the failed projects have compounded their suffering. Government insiders confirmed to PUNCH that many of the affected LGAs never saw project completion or even contractor mobilisation.

ALSO READ:  Troops repel attack on Kaduna community, neutralise 2 terrorists

“Everything was about media visibility and urban optics,” one source within the Kaduna Government House said.

Community leaders are now demanding urgent attention and equity in infrastructural development, warning that continued marginalisation may breed discontent.

Efforts to reach the Kaduna State Ministry of Works for official comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to key officials were not returned at press time.

Continue Reading

News

FG To Repatriate 15,000 Nigerians Stranded Abroad

Published

on

The Federal Government has announced that discussions are underway regarding the safe and dignified return of 15,000 Nigerians stranded in Cameroon, Niger, Chad, and other parts of the world.

Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), made this statement during a media briefing on Friday in Abuja.

Ahmed highlighted that there are currently no fewer than six million displaced individuals within Nigeria, while thousands of refugees reside in various countries around the globe.

“We have 15,000 Nigerians wishing to return to the country voluntarily, and we also have at least 100,000 foreigners residing in Nigeria as refugees.

“All of these fall under the commission’s responsibilities, to provide them with support,” he stated.

While reaffirming the government’s relentless efforts to ensure the safe return of displaced persons, Ahmed expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the assistance extended to the commission and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

The NCFRMI chief also revealed that Nigeria will host the inaugural thematic meeting under its chairmanship of the Rabat Process, with over 100 delegates from the 57 partner countries expected to attend.

It is worth noting that Nigeria assumed the chairmanship of the Rabat Process—a Euro-African dialogue on migration and development—in January 2025.

Ahmed stated that the meeting, scheduled for 13 and 14 May, themed “Youth, Innovation and Education: Driving the Future of Migration,” aims to facilitate bilateral discussions between Nigeria and other nations, ultimately enhancing migration governance.

“Membership in these platforms offers opportunities for knowledge transfer and improved migration management.

ALSO READ:  Zamfara Govt to begin N30,000 minimum wage payments in June

“Nigeria’s leadership in the Rabat Process is viewed as advantageous, despite its one-year term,” he added.

The federal commissioner also addressed the challenges of managing migration, emphasising the need for adequate advocacy to educate younger generations about legal migration pathways.

“There is a necessity to inform migrants about the repercussions of irregular migration, which can lead to negative outcomes.

“The focus should be on promoting legal migration pathways to reduce the number of irregular migrants.

“Regular migration involves travelling through lawful channels, whereas irregular migration often entails perilous and unlawful methods.

“Irregular migration can result in hardship and danger, leaving many migrants unable to return to their home countries,” he remarked.

Ahmed, therefore, called for improved coordination and support from various stakeholders, including the media, to enhance migration governance.

Continue Reading

News

Authentic News Honors Kano Leaders

Published

on

Kano State’s influence in Nigeria’s leadership landscape was reaffirmed as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were named top honorees at the 10th Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony organized by Authentic News Daily.

The event, set for Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Arewa House in Kaduna, will celebrate their contributions to governance and public service.

According to a statement by Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the ceremony will also honor Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as the “Authentic Woman of the Year.”

Governor Yusuf will receive the “Authentic Humanitarian Governor of the Year 2024” award for his transformative leadership and grassroots development initiatives, which have significantly improved lives in Kano State.

Senator Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and former Kano governor, will be recognized as the “Authentic Politician of the Year 2024” for his visionary leadership and enduring legacy of mentorship.

Themed “Religion as a Tool for Peace and National Unity,” the event will feature a keynote address by former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd). Prominent speakers, including Rev. Joseph John Hayab of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sheikh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya of the Global Peace Foundation, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, will discuss the role of religion in fostering national unity.

The awards committee lauded Yusuf and Kwankwaso for their “remarkable dedication to public good” and “unmatched service to humanity,” noting that the honors followed a rigorous evaluation of their impact and national relevance.

The recognition of Kano’s leaders underscores the state’s prominence in Nigerian politics and highlights a shared commitment to purpose-driven governance.

ALSO READ:  Zamfara Govt to begin N30,000 minimum wage payments in June
Continue Reading