Kano State’s tax authority says staff in its Compliance and Enforcement unit have been operating under tougher-than-ideal conditions for some time, but those challenges have been addressed with the commissioning of a new office in the city. The Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) said the upgrade is intended to strengthen day-to-day operations and improve service delivery as the unit expands its effectiveness in generating revenue.
The Executive Chairman of KIRS, Dr Zaid Abubakar, made the remarks during the inauguration of the new Compliance and Enforcement office at the African Alliance Building in Sabon Gari, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State. He said the department’s personnel had previously faced difficult working circumstances despite carrying heavy workloads.
Abubakar explained that before the upgrade, the unit relied on makeshift premises, including container-style structures, and did not have the facilities required to perform effectively. He said the new office now comes with modern equipment designed to enhance productivity and efficiency, replacing earlier limitations that could hamper investigations, audits, and enforcement activities.
“Today, we have provided a modern office with state-of-the-art tools, computers, and a reliable internet network to support their work,” Abubakar said. He added that the Compliance and Enforcement Department is central to revenue collection and is staffed by more than 60 employees responsible for functions including tax audit, debt management, tax investigation, enforcement, and risk profiling.
The KIRS chairman also disclosed that the agency had originally established a revenue target of N35 billion for the department. With the improvement in working conditions, he said the service now expects that target to increase substantially—rising to around N68 billion—reflecting the intended boost in operational capacity.
Abubakar further commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for backing KIRS, pointing to efforts to strengthen staff welfare and adjust the salary structure for KIRS employees beyond the standard civil service framework.
