“Leadership is about finding the right people for the right job, and when you do, results become inevitable.” This assertion perfectly captures the transformation unfolding within the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (GIRS), where visionary leadership and competence are driving unprecedented success.
True to his merit-based approach to governance, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya remains committed to placing the right individuals in the right positions, ensuring efficiency and progress in every sector. Recognizing exceptional talent and potential, he foresaw in Hajiya Aisha Adamu, FCNA, the leadership qualities needed to reform and optimize the state’s revenue system—long before many others did.
Upon her appointment and confirmation as Executive Chairman of GIRS, Hajiya Aisha swiftly introduced groundbreaking reforms, revolutionizing revenue administration. A seasoned financial expert with a stellar track record, she set new benchmarks in revenue generation, digital innovation, stakeholder engagement, and fiscal accountability, driving sustained growth and economic resilience.
In just six months of her stewardship (March to August 2024), Gombe State recorded ₦9.9 billion in revenue, marking a staggering 123% surge in Q2 alone. This impressive growth outperformed the previous year’s performance within the same period. By the end of the year, the state reached a historic milestone, with IGR surpassing ₦20.7 billion—representing a 38% annual increase from ₦15 billion in 2023.
This feat was driven by the strategic automation and digitalization of tax administration in Gombe State. The launch of a cutting-edge digital tax platform (www.irs.gm.gov.ng) marked a significant shift from manual, inefficient processes to a fully automated system. With this innovation, GIRS has enhanced transparency, streamlined payments, and eliminated revenue leakages, ensuring a more efficient and accountable tax administration process.
To support this transformation, Hajiya Aisha ensured the installation of solar power facilities at the GIRS corporate office, guaranteeing 24/7 operations for uninterrupted tax administration, reducing operationalisational cost and opting for renewable energy resources.
Furthermore, recognizing the importance of inclusive taxation, she actively engaged key stakeholders to foster collaboration and enhance tax compliance. She has worked with ALGON to harmonize revenue collection at the grassroots, engaged private school owners and clinic operators to address compliance in the education and health sectors, and strengthened partnerships with NAPPMED to ensure fair taxation for patent medicine dealers.
Additionally, structured levies have been introduced to enhance compliance among transport operators, commercial drivers and other actors in the transport industry.
She has also streamlined tax collection on agricultural produce, animal posts, and fertilizers in collaboration with farmers and agro-allied businesses and has addressed taxation concerns in the agro-processing industry through engagements with rice and oil millers’ associations.
To ensure tax officers are equipped with modern skills, GIRS has made significant investments in training and capacity building. Staff have been trained in digital skills, cloud computing, cyber security, and data analysis to enhance efficiency, while a specialized workshop on cryptocurrency taxation positioned Gombe to benefit from emerging financial trends.
Personnel have also been enrolled in JTB Schools, ANAN, and ICAN to obtain professional certifications, strengthening their expertise in tax administration. Additionally, over 40 casual staff received comprehensive training on tax administration and legal frameworks, ensuring a well-rounded and competent workforce.
To strengthen tax compliance, GIRS under Hajiya Aisha Adamu has fostered close collaboration with the judiciary and legal experts to enforce tax laws effectively. She engaged strategic courts to secure legal backing for tax enforcement, while the introduction of harmonized revenue collection laws has helped prevent multiple taxation and ensure compliance with state policies.
A Joint Revenue Committee was also established to enhance coordination between state and local governments in tax administration. To complement these efforts, the state launched a public awareness campaign to educate taxpayers on their obligations, promoting voluntary compliance and a more transparent tax system.
To further enhance revenue collection and financial accountability, the Gombe State Government, through GIRS, in partnership with USAID State2State, held a two-day workshop on revenue harmonization. The event convened local government chairmen, commissioners, and revenue experts to streamline state-local revenue collection.
A key outcome of the workshop was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen financial coordination and the codification of revenue laws to close loopholes and ensure fair taxation. These initiatives have significantly boosted GIRS revenue growth, reinforcing Gombe’s commitment to fiscal discipline and economic sustainability.
On various platforms, both national and sub-national, GIRS, being Gombe State’s highest revenue institution, has showcased its remarkable success stories and attracted accolades from stakeholders. For instance, at the 156th Joint Tax Board (JTB) Meeting in Port Harcourt, GIRS presented its success in taxing High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs).
Hajiya Aisha enhanced tax compliance among HNIs by leveraging data analytics to identify them, engaging stakeholders for voluntary compliance, and implementing robust enforcement to curb evasion. These strategies have positioned Gombe State as a model for optimizing revenue from high-net-worth individuals and businesses.
In recognition of her exceptional leadership in revenue generation and financial management, Hajiya Aisha Adamu has received prestigious honors, including Grand Commander of Northern Nigerian Students for her zero tolerance for corruption, and the revered titles Sarauniyar Taskar Akko, Dawisun Yamaltu, and Jarumar Funakaye, acknowledging her commitment to economic transformation and public service.
Looking ahead, Hajiya Aisha Adamu has outlined ambitious plans to sustain GIRS’ momentum. She is spearheading further automation of tax administration to enhance efficiency and eliminate leakages, introducing USSD codes to simplify transactions, expanding tax collection centers to improve accessibility, and strengthening partnerships with MDAs to ensure automated revenue remittance across all government agencies. These strategies will undoubtedly consolidate the gains recorded and propel the service to greater heights.
Under Hajiya Aisha Adamu’s dynamic leadership, GIRS has indeed evolved from a mere tax agency into a powerhouse of economic transformation, driving growth and prosperity across Gombe State. Thanks to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s unwavering support and Hajiya Aisha Adamu’s visionary leadership, Gombe State has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading states in revenue efficiency. With continued commitment , the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service is poised for even greater success in the years to come.