Prime Initiative

🌍 International Women’s Day 2026

Today, Prime Initiative for Community Development and Fiscal Transparency celebrates the strength, resilience, and leadership of women across our communities.

Women play a critical role in driving community development, economic growth, and social transformation. From market women and small business owners to community leaders, civil society advocates, and policymakers — women continue to shape a more inclusive and accountable society.

At Prime Initiative, we remain committed to:
✅ Promoting women’s participation in fiscal governance and tax justice
✅ Supporting gender-responsive policies and inclusive economic opportunities
✅ Ensuring that women’s voices are heard in public finance and development decisions

We recognize that sustainable development cannot be achieved without empowering women and ensuring gender equality.

As we mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we call on government institutions, civil society organizations, and communities to strengthen efforts that create fair opportunities, economic inclusion, and leadership space for women and girls.

Together, we can build a society where every woman has the opportunity to thrive, lead, and contribute to sustainable development.

💜 Happy International Women’s Day!

📢 HIGHLIGHT | Tax Reform Sensitisation & Training of Trainers in Jigawa State

Prime Initiative for Community Development and Fiscal Transparency (Tax Justice & Governance Platform), in collaboration with the Jigawa State Internal Revenue Service and with support from Christian Aid, successfully conducted a One-Day Training of Trainers Workshop on the New Tax Reform and Proper Record-Keeping at the Manpower Development Institute, Dutse.

The workshop brought together 25 participants, including religious leaders, vulnerable market groups, women associations, media practitioners, and representatives of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

🔎 Key Highlights:

Participants were sensitised on the new national tax reform, including updated personal income tax structures and protections for low-income earners.

Practical sessions were delivered on proper record-keeping, daily income and expense tracking, and how accurate records help prevent overpayment or underpayment of taxes.

Discussions covered taxpayers’ rights and obligations, grievance redress mechanisms, and the legal implications of non-compliance.

The Executive Chairman of JIRS emphasized the transition to full digital tax administration through the JIGITAS platform to promote transparency and eliminate leakages.

At the end of the training, participants were presented with Certificates of Participation and committed to step down the knowledge across their respective platforms — mosques, churches, markets, women groups, and media channels — to deepen voluntary compliance and promote a stronger social contract in Jigawa State.

We appreciate all stakeholders for their active participation and continued partnership towards building a fair, transparent, and inclusive tax system that supports sustainable development.

📊 PROJECT HIGHLIGHT | TAX JUSTICE CODE (Dec 2025)

Prime Initiative for Community Development and Fiscal Transparency (PIFDT), in partnership with Jigawa Tax Justice & JIRS, recorded major milestones in advancing inclusive, transparent, and gender-responsive tax governance in Jigawa State.

🔹 Key Wins This Month:

✅ Gender-Responsive GRM Strengthened

Validated a Gender-Sensitive Data Framework for tax grievance handling

Trained JIRS officers on GRM dashboards, reporting tools & scorecards

Secured commitment from JIRS leadership to integrate the framework into official SOPs

Boosted capacity to track grievances using s*x-, age- & disability-disaggregated data

✅ National Tax Reform Domestication Advanced

Convened the 5th State–Local Government Joint Revenue Committee (SLJRC) with 44 high-level participants

Adopted the 2025 Nigeria Tax Reform Acts as the framework for state & LGA revenue administration

Agreed on harmonized revenue systems, mandatory deployment of JIGITAS, and institutionalized taxpayer rights & GRM at LGA level

Established a roadmap for a Joint Revenue Committee Secretariat with shared funding

📌 Impact So Far:

Stronger state–local coordination on revenue administration

Clear pathway to digitized, transparent, and rights-based tax systems

Improved citizen trust and accountability in tax processes

📍 Location: Jigawa State
🤝 Partners: Jigawa Tax Justice | JIRS
🎯 Goal: Inclusive economic and just recovery through tax justice

🎯 Understanding Nigeria’s New Tax Ombud: Promoting Fairness & Trust in Tax Administration

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has introduced the Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) — a major reform under President Tinubu’s new tax legislation taking effect January 1, 2026.

The Tax Ombud will serve as an independent mediator between taxpayers and tax authorities, ensuring complaints and grievances are handled fairly, quickly, and at no cost.

✅ For taxpayers: protection from abuse or maladministration, fair treatment, and easy access to justice without going to court.
✅ For government: improved accountability, transparency, and strengthened public trust in Nigeria’s tax system.

This initiative reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and accountability — building a tax culture founded on trust and mutual respect.