The outgoing chairman of Kaduna North Local Government Area, Muktar Baloni, has urged his successor to take Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) seriously.
He emphasized that IGR is crucial for success as a council chairman, especially in urban areas like Kaduna North.
Baloni spoke at the end-of-tenure presentation titled “Achievements, Challenges, and Recommendations,” held at the council secretariat.
He explained that IGR often helps to supplement shortfalls when there are insufficient funds from the Federal Allocation Committee (FAC) to execute meaningful projects for the community.
He noted that the overbearing nature of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) in revenue administration needs critical review for better efficiency.
He explained that currently, the tax law allows KADIRS to appoint both the chairperson and secretary of a local government revenue committee; this should be changed to reflect local government councils’ ownership of their respective tax administration regimes.
“This is why I’m calling on whoever the new council chairman will be to fix IGR generation; without it, meaningful service to the people will be impossible. The key for council chairmen is to enhance their revenue generation to better serve the community, as residents often rely on them for immediate assistance, such as repairs to transformers. Without strong IGR, it will be difficult to provide this support,” he stated.
He further recommended an annual revenue summit for all local government revenue administration stakeholders, where appraisals of the system can be conducted, and necessary changes made for improved revenue performance across the state.
Baloni highlighted that one of his successes during his three-year tenure was his ability to increase IGR, which supported other funds received by the council from the government.
He listed achievements in various sectors, including education, agriculture, social development, healthcare, works, procurement, and security.
In his remarks, the District Head of Kawo, Alhaji Mohammed Jibril Magaji, called on politicians to embrace the culture of continuity for the benefit of the people and commended the outgoing chairman for his commendable performance, particularly in improving security, education, and health services for the community.
