— State Emerges National Trailblazer in Fiscal Equity and Citizen-Centered Development
By Ehis Agbon | Kaduna, Nigeria
In what many experts are calling a landmark step toward inclusive economic governance, Kaduna State has launched a bold initiative to embed gender equity into its taxation and budget policies. The state convened a high-level Policy Dialogue on Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Taxation, signaling a fresh commitment to using public finance as a tool for reducing inequality.
The dialogue—organized by the Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJ&GP) in collaboration with the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), and supported by Christian Aid Nigeria and CISLAC—brought together policymakers, civil society actors, and development partners to confront persistent gender gaps in revenue generation and budget implementation.
This development comes at a pivotal time, as Nigeria begins rolling out a new national tax law aimed at improving fiscal transparency and compliance. Kaduna, one of the first states to align with the reform, is now positioning itself not just as a compliant entity but as a reform model.
Data-Driven Equity
Delivering the keynote address, Idris Suleiman, Director of Budget at the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, highlighted the state’s use of data to guide equitable resource allocation.
“With nearly equal numbers of men and women among our 11 million residents, we cannot afford to exclude anyone from development planning,” Suleiman said. “We are guided by facts, not assumptions.”
He pointed to the Kaduna State Financial Inclusion Register, a tool created to map underserved populations, including women, the elderly, and informal workers—helping the government direct resources where they are most needed.
According to Suleiman, recent budgets have funded programs that support women entrepreneurs, reduce insecurity in rural communities, and re-enroll out-of-school girls—all informed by data from agencies like the Bureau of Statistics and KADRIMA.
Taxation with a Human Face
Representing KADIRS, Richard Bature, Director of Local Government Revenue, explained that Kaduna’s tax administration is undergoing a cultural transformation—from rigid enforcement to citizen engagement.
“KADIRS is no longer just chasing numbers,” Bature said. “We are building trust through dialogue, education, and fairness.”
He revealed that policy input from previous stakeholder engagements has already reshaped how taxes are assessed and collected, especially among vulnerable groups like market women and low-income households.
Justice in Public Spending
Setting the tone for the event, Simeon Olatunde, Kaduna State Coordinator of the TJ&GP, emphasized that gender-responsive budgeting is about understanding the lived realities of different demographic groups—not just women.
“Boys, girls, the elderly, widows, the disabled—all experience government differently. Public finance must reflect those differences,” he said.
He referenced a recent gender audit conducted by TJ&GP, which uncovered gaps in how tax policies affect informal sector workers, particularly women, many of whom face barriers to accessing public services despite contributing to the economy.
Olatunde lauded Kaduna for exceeding the 70% internal revenue generation threshold, a feat he noted many states are still struggling to achieve.
Panel Explores Practical Steps for Reform
One of the high points of the dialogue was a Panel Discussion on Aligning Revenue Generation with Gender Equity in Budget Planning, which featured expert contributions from representatives of the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, OGP Open Contract, KADIRS, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs (M4LGCA), and the Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJ&GP).
The panel delved into how each institution is integrating equity-focused frameworks into their operations—from transparent procurement systems to inclusive tax incentives for women-led businesses. Discussions also touched on how inter-agency collaboration can fast-track the delivery of gender-sensitive public services, especially at the grassroots level.
The robust exchange of ideas and experiences further cemented Kaduna’s status as a learning hub for inclusive governance, with other states showing keen interest in replicating its model.
A Model for the Nation
Participants at the dialogue hailed Kaduna’s efforts as a blueprint for fiscal equity in Nigeria. States like Jigawa, Kano, and others are reportedly studying the Kaduna model to reform their own tax and budgeting systems.
“We’re proud to be setting the pace,” Olatunde said. “But we know this is a journey. Continuous improvement and transparency are the only ways forward.”
As Nigeria grapples with economic pressures and social inequalities, Kaduna State’s proactive steps in reimagining public finance through the lens of gender and inclusion may well define the future of governance across the country.
