The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), rejected recent allegations made by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai regarding the state’s declining monthly revenue and the purported illegal transfer of ₦100 million from the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) account.
During a press conference, Jerry Adams, the Executive Chairman of KADIRS, asserted that the state’s revenue performance has significantly improved under the current administration, surpassing the figures recorded during El-Rufai’s tenure.
Adams revealed that Kaduna’s IGR rose from ₦62 billion in 2023 to ₦71 billion in 2024.
El-Rufai had claimed that under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, the state’s revenue dropped from ₦7 billion per month to just ₦2 billion, while also alleging the illegal transfer of ₦100 million to an unknown individual from the state’s IGR account.
Addressing these claims, Adams said, “It has become necessary to correct the statements made by the former Governor.
Whether based on incomplete or misleading information, or intentional misrepresentation, it’s essential to set the record straight for the public.”
He continued, “The former Governor’s comparison of the current administration’s IGR to a ₦7 billion monthly figure is misleading.
The highest annual revenue collected during El-Rufai’s administration was ₦59 billion in 2022, averaging around ₦4.9 billion per month.
It is also important to note that this figure was inflated by one-off payments, including back-duty recoveries and the sale of government properties, which accounted for approximately ₦45 billion of that total.”
Adams emphasized that when these exceptional inflows were removed from the equation, the actual monthly revenue collection under El-Rufai’s administration presented a different picture.
Addressing the allegation regarding the ₦100 million transfer, Adams firmly stated, “The claim that KADIRS regularly transfers ₦100 million to an unknown individual is completely false.
The state’s revenue collection process is fully automated, with payments made through the PAYKADUNA portal and other secure channels, all of which are deposited directly into the state’s Treasury Single Account (TSA). The IGR account serves solely as a collection and transit account, meaning that no withdrawals to individuals or organizations are possible.”
Adams also highlighted the remarkable progress in revenue generation under the current administration, stating, “In 2023, Kaduna State achieved an IGR of ₦62.48 billion, and in 2024, that figure increased to ₦71 billion, with average monthly collections of ₦5.2 billion and ₦6.0 billion, respectively.
Kaduna led northern Nigeria in IGR performance in 2023, as recognized by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).”
He further added, “For the first two months of 2025, Kaduna State has already collected a total of ₦14.16 billion to ₦7.46 billion in January and ₦6.68 billion in February, without any back-duty recoveries.
This demonstrates our commitment to sustainable revenue mobilization and transparent governance.”
Adams emphasized the importance of organic growth in revenue generation, both vertically and horizontally, to ensure long-term sustainability.
“Our goal is to avoid reliance on one-off recoveries and instead build a consistent and reliable revenue base for the future,” he stated.
Finally, Adams unveiled an ambitious plan to further improve the state’s revenue systems, stating that the Kaduna State Government is taking steps to centralize all IGR-related data into a single database.
“This pioneering initiative, the first of its kind in Kaduna State and Nigeria, will enhance data-driven decision-making, improve revenue forecasting, and increase efficiency in tax administration.”
With these developments, the Kaduna State Government is clearly focused on strengthening its financial systems and ensuring the sustainability of its revenue base under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani.
