The Kano Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) has discovered multiple private accounts fraudulently used to siphon public funds, leading to the loss of billions of naira.
The Executive Chairman of KIRS, Dr. Zaid Abubakar, revealed this during the 2024 Yearly Performance Review and Strategic Planning for 2025 held yesterday.
He highlighted how revenue misappropriation and under-reported income by previous managers had weakened the state’s ability to compete with its peers in internally generated revenue (IGR).
While Dr. Abubakar did not disclose the exact amount of missing funds or the identities of those responsible, he stressed that these illegal practices had severely impacted Kano’s financial strength.
To address the issue, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved a review of the state’s tax laws, with the amendments expected to take effect before the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Revenue, Prof. Ibrahim Barde, urged the revenue agency to tackle the challenges hindering effective tax collection and ensure a more transparent and accountable system.
