At least 26 state governments could not generate enough internal revenue to cover their personnel costs in 2025, as they continue to depend on allocations from the Federation Account despite a significant improvement in their finances.

An analysis by The PUNCH showed that only eight of the 34 states covered by a new BudgIT report generated Internally Generated Revenue higher than their personnel expenditure during the year. The eight states were Lagos, Enugu, Ogun, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Abia and Anambra.

The remaining 26 states generated about N1.16tn internally but spent approximately N1.91tn on personnel, leaving a gap of about N747bn between their combined IGR and wage-related expenditure.

The findings are contained in BudgIT’s 2026 report titled ‘Nigeria’s Economic Reforms: What Has Changed Across Nigeria’s States? An Analysis of State Finances in the Post-Subsidy Years’.

The report analysed actual figures contained in states’ full-year budget implementation reports for 2022 and 2025. Akwa Ibom and Rivers were excluded because of incomplete or unavailable data.

The figures do not imply that states are expected to finance salaries exclusively from IGR because statutory allocations are a legitimate source of government revenue. They, however, show the extent to which many states would struggle to meet even their personnel obligations without revenue distributed by the Federation Account Allocation Committee.

This dependence has persisted despite the sharp rise in revenues available to states following the removal of petrol subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, and higher revenues accruing to the Federation Account.

According to BudgIT, aggregate FAAC allocations increased from N3.43tn in 2022 to N11.38tn in 2025, representing a 232.06 per cent increase and a compound annual growth rate of 50.2 per cent.

IGR also increased substantially, rising from N1.57tn to N4.15tn over the same period, but its 165.01 per cent growth and 38.38 per cent CAGR lagged the expansion in FAAC receipts.

Consequently, states became more dependent on federal transfers despite generating more revenue internally. FAAC accounted for 68.7 per cent of aggregate state revenue in 2022 but increased to 73.3 per cent in 2025. Conversely, IGR’s share fell from 31.4 per cent to 26.7 per cent.

BudgIT said this showed that “despite improvements in domestic revenue mobilisation, many states remained heavily reliant on transfers from the Federation Account.”

It stressed that improving domestic revenue mobilisation would be critical to strengthening states’ long-term fiscal sustainability and reducing their dependence on federal transfers.

The report said, “Although statutory allocations accounted for a larger share of the overall increase in revenues, strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation remains essential for improving long-term fiscal sustainability and reducing dependence on federal transfers.”

A state-by-state comparison by The PUNCH showed wide disparities between personnel expenditure and internally generated revenue. Yobe generated only N15.42bn internally in 2025 but spent N76.34bn on personnel. Its personnel bill was therefore almost five times its IGR, leaving a shortfall of about N60.91bn.

Taraba generated N17.89bn against personnel expenditure of N55.60bn, meaning its personnel costs were more than three times its IGR. Sokoto recorded IGR of N20.58bn but personnel expenditure of N58.65bn, while Adamawa generated N24.14bn internally against a N65.73bn personnel bill.

Jigawa’s personnel expenditure stood at N92.66bn compared with IGR of N35.27bn, while Benue spent N73.94bn on personnel after generating N29.38bn internally.

Similarly, Kogi generated N36.50bn but recorded personnel expenditure of N89.20bn, while Kebbi’s N18.41bn IGR was less than half of its N44.82bn personnel expenditure.

Other states with personnel costs exceeding IGR included Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

In absolute terms, Oyo recorded the largest gap among the 26 states. The state generated N102.52bn internally but spent N170.04bn on personnel, creating a difference of about N67.51bn.

Yobe followed with a gap of about N60.91bn, while Jigawa recorded N57.39bn. Ondo’s personnel expenditure of N99.58bn exceeded its N45.63bn IGR by N53.94bn, while Kogi recorded a gap of N52.70bn. Bayelsa generated N52.15bn against N98.75bn in personnel expenditure, leaving a difference of N46.60bn.

Some states were much closer to financing their personnel costs internally. Edo generated N98.45bn and spent N99.27bn on personnel, leaving a gap of less than N1bn. Gombe generated N36.36bn compared with personnel expenditure of N53.95bn, while Osun recorded N58.80bn in IGR against N87.46bn in personnel costs.

The data showed that the situation improved slightly compared with 2022, when 28 of the 34 states had personnel expenditure above their IGR. Abia, Delta, Enugu and Kwara moved from having IGR below personnel expenditure in 2022 to generating enough internally to cover their wage-related costs by 2025. However, Ebonyi and Jigawa moved in the opposite direction.

The PUNCH further observed that the weakness in state-level fiscal independence is partly obscured by the enormous size of Lagos’ revenue base. Lagos generated N1.85tn in IGR in 2025, up from N656.35bn in 2022. Its IGR alone accounted for about 44 per cent of the N4.15tn generated by the 34 states covered by the report.

The state spent N333.67bn on personnel, meaning its IGR was more than five times its personnel expenditure. Enugu generated N406.77bn compared with personnel expenditure of N56.40bn, while Ogun generated N237.65bn against N151.27bn in personnel costs. Delta recorded N206.44bn in IGR and N197.81bn in personnel expenditure.

Other states whose IGR exceeded their personnel bills were Kaduna, which generated N86.72bn against N77.63bn; Kwara, N85.21bn against N65.22bn; Abia, N66.86bn against N62.26bn; and Anambra, N54.24bn against N39.95bn.

Lagos’ dominance also means the aggregate IGR position appears considerably stronger than that of the typical state. Excluding Lagos, the remaining 33 states generated about N2.30tn internally in 2025. Their combined personnel expenditure stood at roughly N2.56tn, meaning personnel costs exceeded IGR by about N254bn.

Enugu also recorded an exceptional increase that boosted the overall IGR figure. Its IGR jumped from N25.12bn in 2022 to N406.77bn in 2025, an increase of N381.66bn and a CAGR of 153.01 per cent, the highest among the states.

BudgIT, however, noted that the increase was largely attributable to proceeds collected by the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation from the government’s intervention in the landed property market.

The organisation expressed reservations about the classification and noted the potentially cyclical nature of the receipts. Niger recorded the second-fastest IGR growth, with collections rising from N12.11bn to N66.37bn, while Abia increased from N14.67bn to N66.86bn.

But not every state benefited from the IGR expansion. Three states recorded lower IGR in 2025 than in 2022. Jigawa suffered the biggest decline, falling from N59.40bn to N35.27bn. Sokoto’s IGR dropped from N23.60bn to N20.58bn, while Ebonyi declined marginally from N23.89bn to N23.25bn.

Jigawa’s position was particularly significant because its personnel expenditure rose from N52.37bn in 2022 to N92.66bn in 2025, while its IGR declined, substantially increasing its dependence on other revenue sources.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, recently called for stronger fiscal federalism, improved revenue generation and economic diversification to strengthen Nigeria’s resilience to economic shocks. The minister spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, at the 2026 National Council on Finance and Economic Development Retreat.

Speaking on the theme ‘Strengthening Fiscal Federalism for Equity, Sustainable Development and Economic Resilience in a Volatile Global Economy,’ Oyedele insisted on the retreat interrogating the current allocation and derivation principles, even as he called for greater fiscal responsibility, accountability and cooperation among Nigeria’s three tiers of government to achieve sustainable economic growth.

The minister urged state governments nationwide to strengthen their Internally Generated Revenue, attract investments and create jobs rather than rely heavily on federal allocations.

Also speaking, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who was represented at the event by his Deputy, Chinyere Ekomaru, said that states must be empowered to generate more revenue and efficiently manage available resources, pointing out that continued dependence on oil revenue was no longer sustainable.

An economist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof Akpan Ekpo, recently stressed that “states have to think of new ways of increasing their IGRs.” He urged the states to increase their revenue by increasing service delivery, which will attract more revenue.

A renowned economist and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, earlier said that a majority of states were not financially sustainable and were at risk of insolvency without a boost in investment.

He said, “This issue is a fiscal sustainability problem, showing that many states are not fiscally sustainable and need to work towards it; and that the states need to do a lot more to attract more investments to their states so that their level of dependence on the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee would reduce.

He also said that the state governors should reduce their bloated staff and political appointees. “Most of these states have heavy overhead and they have very bloated bureaucracy, political appointees and they are putting a lot of pressure on their resources, so they have to do some rationalisation on their staff, many of them don’t need more than 50 per cent of their workforce but for political reasons, they put all manner of characters on their payroll including the local government,” he said.

Source: punchng.com

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You are an Iraqi based in London, United Kingdom, how did you learn to speak Yoruba?

I trade at Woolwich Market. That is where I work and where I started meeting many Nigerian customers, especially Yoruba people.

Many of the Nigerians I met at the market spoke Yoruba when they came to buy things from me. At first, I did not understand what they were saying, so I became curious and started asking them to interpret the words they used. That was how I gradually started learning Yoruba from my customers.

What do you sell?

I used to sell pepper and fruit, but now I sell cosmetics and hair. My business has changed over time, but I have continued interacting with many Yoruba customers at the market. Through those interactions, I have also continued learning the language.

How did you first become interested in the Yoruba language?

About 95 per cent of my customers are Yoruba. Whenever they came to buy things, they would speak Yoruba to me. Instead of just listening to them, I started asking questions whenever I heard words I did not understand. I would ask them what the words meant, and that was how I learnt little by little.

The more I listened to them, the more interested I became. I started enjoying the language because I think Yoruba is a sweet language. That was what encouraged me to keep learning it.

What do you like about the Yoruba language?

I like the way the language sounds. For me, it is an interesting language, and because I hear my customers speak it regularly, it became easier for me to pick it up. I also like the way Yoruba people communicate with me when they come to the market.

How did you get the name “Olakunle Oshodi”?

Oh, one of my customers gave me the name. She is a lovely person, and she is Yoruba. She said the name was good for me, and that was how I got the name “Olakunle Oshodi.”

Do you have any family connection to Nigeria?

No, I don’t have any family connection to Nigeria. I have never even been there. My connection with Yoruba came through my customers and the people I have met at the market.

How long have you been learning Yoruba?

It has been about three years. I can speak it because I really like the language, so it has not been that hard for me. I have been learning mainly through my customers and through everyday conversations at the market.

What made you decide to speak Yoruba with your customers?

Basically, I just wanted to learn. You know, Yoruba people joke with you and laugh with you. They want happiness, and they are not fake. That is why I love them.

When they come to the market, there is always a lot of interaction. They joke, laugh, and make you feel comfortable. So, for me, learning the language became a way of connecting with them better.

Yoruba people are lovely. Even when wahala comes sometimes, they are still just lovely. I enjoy the way they joke and laugh with you. They want happiness, and that is something I really like about them.

Being around them has also helped me learn more about the language because I speak Yoruba almost every day with my customers. The more I interact with them, the more I learn.

Has speaking Yoruba affected your business?

Yes, it has made the business grow. Speaking Yoruba has helped me connect with my customers better, and I believe that has been good for my business.

When customers realise that I can speak their language, it creates a different kind of relationship. We can joke together, laugh together, and communicate more easily.

How do customers react when they realise that you can speak Yoruba?

They are shocked, and they laugh. I see them happy, and I laugh with them. Sometimes, you can see that they did not expect a white man to speak Yoruba, so their reaction is usually one of surprise. Most of the time, they are not expecting it at all, especially when they first hear me respond to them in Yoruba.

I enjoy seeing their reaction because you can immediately see the happiness on their faces. Sometimes, they will look at me again as if they are trying to confirm whether I really understand what they are saying. It is always a funny and enjoyable moment for me.

Speaking Yoruba also makes the interaction more relaxed. Instead of just being a customer-and-trader relationship, we can joke together, laugh together, and have a better conversation. I enjoy that connection with them. I laugh with them because it makes the interaction more enjoyable, and I am happy when I see that they appreciate my effort to speak their language.

What goes through your mind when customers are surprised by your Yoruba?

I just enjoy the moment. They are shocked and laughing, and I see that they are happy. So, I laugh with them. For me, it is a nice experience because it shows that they appreciate the fact that I am trying to speak their language.

Has speaking Yoruba helped you gain your customers’ trust?

Yes, 100 per cent. I’m always with them. I spend a lot of time interacting with my customers at the market, so speaking Yoruba has helped me become closer to them. When I speak their language, they know that I am making an effort to understand them and communicate with them in a way that makes them comfortable.

I am not just there to sell something to them; I enjoy being around them and having conversations with them. That connection is important to me.

Have you ever had a funny experience while speaking Yoruba?

Yes, I have. They say, “Ah-ah!” when I speak. They are usually surprised when they hear me speaking Yoruba, and that reaction can be funny.

Sometimes, they cannot believe what they hear. They will react with “Ah-ah!” because they did not expect me to speak the language.

Even though sometimes wahala can come, it is still just lovely being around them. My experience with them has been positive, and they have also played an important role in helping me learn the language.

Do you think your customers have also enjoyed teaching you Yoruba?

Yes, because most of what I know came from interacting with them. When they speak Yoruba and I do not understand a word, I ask them what it means. That is how I learn.

It has been a gradual process. I listen, ask questions, and then try to use the words when I speak to them. I enjoy the learning process.

What are you looking forward to about visiting Nigeria?

As I said earlier, I have never been to Nigeria, but I have plans to go. I have not had the opportunity to visit yet, even though I have developed such a strong interest in the Yoruba language and culture.

I have a plan to go. I have never been there before, so I would like to experience the country and meet more people. I have learnt Yoruba mainly from people in London, so visiting Nigeria would allow me to experience the language and culture differently.

What does Yoruba culture mean to you?

I love the culture. I love Yoruba natives. My connection with Yoruba has grown through the people I meet and the language I have learnt from them. Even though I have never been to Nigeria, I have developed a love for the culture through my customers and the people around me.

What would you like Yoruba people to know about your connection with their language?

I want them to know that I love all of them, and I want to learn more of the language if I can. I speak well, but I only need time. One day, they will see. I want them to know that my interest in Yoruba is genuine. I did not learn it because somebody forced me to; I learnt it because I met Yoruba people, I enjoyed being around them, and I fell in love with the language.

Source: punchng.com

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The Joint Revenue Board has said Nigeria’s tax reform has reduced the burden on low-income earners and eliminated multiple nuisance taxes.

The Executive Secretary of the JRB, Olusegun Adesokan, stated this while giving an overview of the progress recorded one year into the implementation of the tax reform.

In a post obtained from the board’s X handle on Friday, Adesokan spoke at the 160th meeting of the JRB in Kaduna State, with the theme, “One Year of Reform: Assessing Progress and Addressing Challenges.”

He said the reform had also provided relief for low-income earners and micro-scale businesses, contrary to concerns that it had increased the tax burden.

“Addressing the misconception that the tax reform has increased taxes, the reform has rather reduced the tax burden on low-income earners, eliminated multiple nuisance taxes while providing reliefs for low-income earners and micro-scale businesses,” he said.

Adesokan said 18 state Houses of Assembly had domesticated the model harmonised taxes and levies law, which was designed to address overlapping and multiple taxation across the country.

According to him, the legislation had reduced more than 50 collection items previously administered by states and local government areas to nine sub-heads.

He added that the law had also abolished cash collection and the mounting of roadblocks for revenue collection.

The Executive Secretary said the measures had recorded significant progress in harmonising taxes and levies across the subnational governments.

The JRB, Nigeria’s apex body for revenue administration, convened the meeting to assess progress under the new revenue regime, identify gaps, and address emerging challenges.

The meeting was declared open by the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, who said the reform had expanded opportunities for domestic resource mobilisation and strengthened the country’s capacity to finance development.

Sani urged the JRB to identify bottlenecks affecting revenue collection, institutional weaknesses creating friction between revenue authorities and taxpayers, and opportunities for technology to improve efficiency in revenue administration.

He said, “The objective of the reform should not be simply to collect revenue; it should be to build a tax system in which compliance becomes easier, enforcement becomes more intelligent and voluntary compliance becomes a norm.”

The Executive Secretary appreciated Governor Uba Sani for hosting the 160th JRB meeting and for his consistent support of the tax reform initiative. He particularly commended the governor for nominating a member of the Board and outgoing Executive Chairman of Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Jerry Adams, as his running mate for the 2027 gubernatorial election.

Sani expressed his delight with the tax reform, stressing that apart from eliminating duplication of taxation, it has enhanced revenue generation.

He observed that the national tax revenue has so far risen to N21.6 trillion since President Bola Tinubu introduced tax reform in 2026.

According to him, the nation’s revenue was  approximately ₦10.1 trillion in 2023,  ₦21.6 trillion in 2024, and about ₦36.8 trillion in 2025.

In his opening remarks, JRB Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services, Nigeria Revenue Service, Muhammad Abubakar, said the meeting was a call for revenue authorities to take stock of the progress made, address identified gaps and confront emerging challenges.

He said the ultimate measure of the reform’s success must be improved revenue mobilisation, greater compliance, a better taxpayer experience, and stronger contributions to national development.

Source: punchng.com

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