The Jigawa Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), has inaugurated a digital platform to automate informal sector revenue collection, improve transparency and boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Speaking at the event on Friday in Dutse, the Executive Chairman of JIRS, Dr Nasir Sabo, said the initiative was designed to engage stakeholders, train revenue collectors on the Tax Reform Act 2025.
He said it would also validate revenue collection frameworks for livestock, grains and haulage.
He said the programme was part of the state’s strategy to modernize revenue administration and address challenges associated with informal sector revenue collection.
Sabo said that Jigawa’s IGR increased from N27.5 billion in 2023 to N62.6 billion in 2024, following digital reforms introduced by the state.
“The programme is designed to engage stakeholders, understand their challenges, train revenue collectors on the new tax reforms and strengthen our revenue collection framework through technology,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Nwabueze Ugwu, Regional Manager, Northwest, etranzact International, said the company was mandated by the state government to deploy an automated solution tailored to informal sector revenue collection.
He said the digital platform will eliminate leakages through real-time monitoring of collections and direct remittance into designated government accounts.
“Our target is to ensure that the state generates at least N500 million monthly from the informal sector using this technology, while ensuring every transaction is transparent and accountable,” Ugwu said.
Also speaking, the Deputy General Manager and Group Head, Public Sector Division (States), etranzact International, Mr Gabriel Essien, described digitization as critical to unlocking Jigawa’s revenue potential.
Essien said the project would harmonize and automate informal sector revenue administration, through technology-driven processes that promote transparency, accountability and operational efficiency.
He said the company would deploy mobile wallets, POS terminals and other digital tools for market leaders, traders and revenue collectors across the state.
The Coordinator of the Jigawa Enlightenment and Engagement Tax Team (JEET), Muhammad Mukufi, inaugurated the project on behalf of Gov. Umar Namadi.
Namadi described taxation as a social contract, saying the electronic platform would replace manual collection with a transparent, convenient and fair system.
“When citizens pay their taxes, government gains the capacity to provide better markets, security, healthcare, schools and other essential services,” he said.
Chairman of Kiyawa Local Government Area, Abdulhamid Ibrahim, urged stakeholders to identify and eliminate revenue leakages at local government levels.
He also called for the expansion of revenue sources beyond market collections to improve local government earnings.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mrs Zainab Usman and Muhammad Kabiru, described the application as simple to learn and easy to use.(NAN).
