By Mustapha Salisu
Stakeholders have reiterated the importance of citizen empowerment and accountability in strengthening tax administration and fiscal justice reforms across Nigeria.
This was highlighted during a Stakeholder Documentary Screening and Fireside Reflection on Fiscal Justice, Tax Accountability, and Citizen-Centred Revenue Administration Reforms held at Mambayya House, Gwammaja, Kano State.
Speaking at the event which was in conjunction with Christian Aid and CISLAC, the Program Lead of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJ&GP), Kano, Sadiq Muhammad Mustapha, said the documentary captured years of reform efforts and impact across multiple states.
“So today we are here to do a stakeholder documentary of the projects on tax justice that we have been implementing for over a year,” he said.
He explained that the initiative had recorded successes beyond Kano State, extending to Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Zamfara, Enugu, and Anambra States.
“We are able to recall some of the successes achieved, not only limited to Kano State, but Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, Zamfara, and even Enugu and Anambra State,” Mustapha noted.
According to him, a key lesson from the intervention is that grassroots citizens become more effective advocates when equipped with knowledge and capacity to engage governance processes.
“When citizens, especially the grassroots at the market level and at the local government, are empowered with the knowledge and capacity to take the initiative that affects their collective priorities, they will be able to use that knowledge and capacity to push for greater accountability,” he said.
He explained that the project adopted a participatory, multi-stakeholder approach involving women groups, persons with disabilities, market associations, informal sector traders, and traditional institutions.
“We adopt a participatory model and a multi-stakeholder model in which we are able to identify stakeholders across different thematic areas,” he stated.
Mustapha further noted that community concerns were translated into Tax-for-Service Agreements and Charters of Demand, which were used to engage local authorities.
He cited Bichi Local Government Area as a major success story, where community advocacy led to tangible development outcomes.
“They were able to go back, draft a charter of demands, and also reach out to their respective local government chairmen… The charter was signed and they were able to convince the local government chairman to build 48 open shops,” he said.
He commended the Bichi Local Government Chairman for responding positively to community demands aimed at improving local commerce.
However, he acknowledged that the initiative initially faced resistance from some government officials unfamiliar with the Tax-for-Service framework.
“Initial resistance was faced from government officials… they are a bit skeptical to append their signatures on such documents,” he explained.
He said sustained advocacy and consultations helped build trust and understanding of the model as part of governance and the social contract.
On sustainability, Mustapha stressed that the focus remained on capacity building and community ownership.
“We bring those stakeholders, build their capacity, build their awareness, empower them with technical skills and capabilities,” he said.
He added that the goal is to ensure communities not only engage government effectively but also transfer knowledge within their constituencies for wider impact.