Kaduna reviews 52 revenue agencies, promises rewards for top performers

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission has launched a comprehensive three-day mid-year review to evaluate the revenue performance of all 52 revenue-generating agencies across the state.
The goal is to assess progress, ensure fiscal accountability, and improve budget implementation for the rest of the 2026 fiscal year.
At the opening session, Kaduna State Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Ahmed, said tracking revenue is the core of governance and development planning.
He explained that a budget has two parts: revenue and expenditure.
“You cannot talk about expenditure until you have revenue.
“Because revenue dictates the budget, without it, there is no budget,” he stated.
Ahmed added that quarterly and mid-year reviews are essential for understanding the state’s financial position, enabling accurate forecasting and proper budget execution.
“To know where the state is, how to plan, and how the budget is going to be executed properly, the ministry needs to understand how much money Kaduna has.
“And the only entities that can help achieve this are the 52 revenue-generating agencies in the state,” he said.
Reviewing initial presentations, the Commissioner described performance among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as mixed.
While some sectors have far exceeded expectations, others are falling behind significantly.
“The ministry is satisfied with some of the agencies that have done very well, performing beyond the target set for the half-year.
“Meanwhile, some are in the middle, and others have not even started,” Ahmed said.
To promote efficiency, the Commissioner announced that high-performing agencies could be rewarded by reviewing and possibly increasing their budgets by a certain percentage, based on capacity.
Conversely, struggling agencies will be engaged to identify and fix operational bottlenecks. Issues beyond the committee’s scope will be escalated directly to the Governor for intervetion.
Switching to Hausa to address the wider public, Ahmed urged citizens to remain patient and actively participate in governance by monitoring public finances.
He reiterated that the main aim of the rigorous budget process is to ensure Kaduna State’s resources are used effectively to improve residents’ lives.
“What the ministry hopes for from the public is continued patience and a commitment to follow up on where the money comes from and how it is being spent, because this work is being done entirely for them,” he stated.
Ahmed added that the ministry maintains an open-door policy and welcomes constructive feedback and advice from the public.
During the review, specific presentations highlighted operational challenges faced by enforcement agencies.
The Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUDA) and Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA) presented their mid-year progress reports during the 1st and 2nd quarter revenue review meeting.
Representing KASUDA, Director General Dr. Abdulrahman Yahaya, PhD, announced a steady rise in revenue targets and expressed confidence that the agency will reach 100 percent by year-end.
Yahaya reported that public compliance with urban planning regulations increased by over 25 percent compared to the first and second quarters of 2025.
He also noted that resistance during neighborhood operations has decreased significantly under the restructured agency.
However, Yahaya pointed out ongoing operational issues, including vehicle shortages, insufficient workforce, and lack of reliable power supply, which are being addressed.
In another presentation, KASTLEA’s Corps Marshal and CEO, Carla Abdulmalik, clarified that while KASTLEA primarily enforces traffic laws, it is also responsible for collecting and reconciling state funds from traffic fines.
Abdulmalik expressed concern over public hostility, noting frequent mob attacks on road marshals by motorists and bystanders.
She explained that routine traffic stops for offenses like driving without a license, lacking vehicle documents, or faulty lights often escalate as offenders incite passersby against officers.
The Corps Marshal called on the public to cooperate, emphasizing that KASTLEA was created to ensure road safety and that its officers are community members.
She confirmed that individuals attacking marshals are being arrested and handed over to police for prosecution.
Abdulmalik also dismissed claims that KASTLEA officers operate in plain clothes to trap motorists, stating all officers must wear official uniforms.
The three-day review aims to generate actionable recommendations to improve revenue collection, address agency issues, and boost fiscal discipline across Kaduna State.