Kano tops northern Nigeria in revenue generation, employs more workers

Kano State has recorded a marked improvement in internally generated revenue, ranking ninth nationally and first in northern Nigeria, according to the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf welcomed the ranking during the induction of newly recruited staff of the Kano Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) at the Government House in Kano. The ceremony followed a briefing by the KIRS executive chairman, Zaid Abubakar, on the state’s recent revenue performance.

Abubakar said the NBS data showed a significant turnaround for Kano, which had previously ranked as low as 30th among Nigeria’s 36 states. He attributed the improvement to reforms introduced under the current administration, including measures aimed at strengthening institutions and improving professionalism within the revenue service.

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“Kano State is now ranked first in northern Nigeria and ninth nationally in revenue generation,” he said, describing the result as evidence that the reforms were beginning to yield results.

The governor used the occasion to induct 120 newly recruited KIRS officers, employed on permanent and pensionable terms. The recruits include specialists in economics, accounting and taxation, a move the state government says is intended to consolidate recent gains and further improve revenue collection.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the administration views investment in human capital as central to improving operational efficiency and strengthening revenue administration.

Governor Yusuf also reiterated his government’s stance on public sector ethics, warning that there would be zero tolerance for corruption, abuse of office or other forms of misconduct. He said officers found to have breached ethical standards would face disciplinary action.

The state’s commissioner for finance, Ismail Aliyu Danmaya, congratulated the new recruits and underscored the importance of effective revenue administration to Kano’s broader development agenda.