Writing by Shamsuddeen Mannir Atiku; Editing by Basirat Memudu
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has repealed the Tax Codification and Consolidation Law No. 16 of 2020 and replaced it with the Kaduna State Tax (Consolidation) Law, 2025, while also passing a bill establishing the Kaduna State Climate Change Advisory Board to strengthen environmental governance in the state.
The Speaker of the House, Yusuf Dahiru Liman, who presided over the plenary, explained that the new tax law is designed to consolidate various tax provisions into a single, well-structured legal framework that will be easier for administrators and taxpayers to understand and implement.
He stated that rather than having tax regulations scattered across multiple legislations, the new law harmonises them into one comprehensive tax code, thereby eliminating duplication and removing outdated provisions.
Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Halliru Bello Dangana, who represents Sanga Constituency, said that after an in-depth review of the bill, the committee recommended the repeal of the existing Tax Codification and Consolidation Law and its replacement with the new Tax Consolidation Law.
According to him, the legislation merges various versions and amendments of tax laws into a single, updated statute.
He added that reviewing and amending laws is a routine legislative practice aimed at aligning them with prevailing realities.
Dangana further noted that the new law will help address gaps and leakages in tax administration in the state, thereby improving internally generated revenue to support infrastructural development.
In a related development, the Assembly also passed into law a bill establishing the Kaduna State Climate Change Advisory Board and providing for the mainstreaming of climate change actions across relevant sectors.
Speaker Liman said the board will be responsible for advising the government on strategies to combat climate change, protect the environment and plan for climate-related risks.
He emphasised the need for collective responsibility in maintaining a pollution-free environment in order to improve public health and reduce the devastating effects of climate change.
Presenting the report of the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, its Chairman, Usman Danlami Stingo, explained that the board will serve as a regulatory body on environmental matters and also facilitate access to funding from relevant international agencies to support climate change mitigation efforts.
Stingo described climate change as an unavoidable global challenge and stressed the need for proactive measures to mitigate its adverse impacts on livelihoods, including floods, drought, desertification and extreme weather conditions.
He further highlighted the importance of effective climate change management to enable both humans and animals adapt to emerging environmental challenges.
According to him, membership of the board will be drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations, the Christian Association of Nigeria, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, as well as other key stakeholders.
He added that the establishment of the board will position Kaduna State to better access international climate funding often reserved for governments with institutional frameworks dedicated to addressing climate change.
