The Administration Of Colonial Taxation In Zaria Province

The Administration Of Colonial Taxation In Zaria Province

Chapter One

Preface

Background Of The Study

By 1900, the partition of Africa among the populating powers of Europe- France, Britain, Germany, Belgium, Dutch, Italy and Portugal was virtually completed. Though, the detailed discrimination of the social boundaries was still to be achieved, the general outlines were formerly clear and agreed upon.1 This accomplishment set the pace for a new form of Homeric domination whereby, the total of Nigeria area was pacified under social rule, Zaria was a element of it. therefore, it was on this course of events that Zaria Emirate was conquered and Zaria Province and its sections were created to grease the establishment of social domination. The Northern region was divided administratively into businesses, and also subdivided into divisions and every division was further divided into sections.2 It was from these executive Structures that Kagarko District was created. Zaria was made a Province in March 1902 with Captain Abadie as Resident in charge of the parochialadministration3.This was in the reign of Emir Kwassau Muhammadu Lawal, son of Yero( 1897- 1902).4 Kagarko, the area of this study was one of the southern sections that made up Zaria fiefdom in1902.5 This Southern Division comprised of Kajuru, Chawai, Lere, Kagarko, Kachia, Chikun, Zangon Kataf, Kagoro, Maroa, Jaba, Jema‘a, Gwantu, Ayu, Bishini, and Birakatu.6

1 AjayiJ. F & Crowther. M( Ed). History of West Africa Volume 11. Longman London, 1974.p. 424. 2Heussler.R. The British in Northern Nigeria. Longman, Oxford University Press, New York 1968.p. 83 3 Smith.M.G Government in Zazzau 1800 – 1900. Oxford, London. 1960.p. 202 4 Green- Kirk. Gazetteers of the Northern businesses of Zaria. Volume 1. The Hausa Emirates( Bauchi, Sokoto, Zaria, Kano) Frank Cass. London. 1972.p. 14 5 Ibid.p. 29

6 James.I. Studies in the History, Politics and societies of Southern Kaduna People ‟ s Groups. Landsomas Press Ltd, Jos, 1997.p. 18

2

Kagarko is dominantly inhabited by the Koro speaking people.7 Other ethnical groups in the area include the Gbagyi, Jaba, Hausa and Fulani. The main focus of this thesis is a study of the administration of social taxation in Kagarko District from 1902- 1960 announcement. The study intends to disinter the colorful means by which the colonialists generated profit in the area, taxation being the major source of profit for the social government. Colonialism wasn’t just for political subjection, but it was principally for profitable earnings. To achieve this profitable gain, the administration of taxation was the crucial medium used by the colonialists. therefore, social taxation involved.

the assessment, levying and collection of a certain sum of plutocrat on abecedarian aspects of peoples ‟ lives. It involved trying all people of determined age, and what they held in profitable terms.8 So, British plutocrat and imperialist motives were the main reason for the preface of social taxation in Kagarko District. It’s in light of this commercial ‘s profitable provocation that this exploration work is aimed at bringing to lime light the type of duty assessment, levying and collection that took place in Kagarko District during the period chosen for this study.

Generally speaking, duty is a mandatory payment levied by the government on individualities or companies to meet the expenditure which is needed for public weal. Taxation has been the main source of profit for governments for numerous times in areas where taxation was in place. levies were meant to fund precious services for the public but it has also been an major source of disdain for numerous citizens who consider it as nothing further than government highway robbery. So for numerous people taxation wasn’t salutary, it was rather highway robbery and exploitation especially in the social period. Theoretically, taxation is guided by the principles of equity, certainty, convenience and impartiality. To buttress this point, Adams Smith in his book the wealth of nations, has it that levies should be grounded on the individual ‘s capability to pay and that there should be some parity between what the individual pays and the benefits he latterly receives from governmental conditioning. still, this study contends that these principles weren’t followed in the administration of social taxation in Kagarko District. This is farther substantiated in the posterior chapters of this exploration work. More so, the political, profitable and social recrimination of social taxation on the people of Kagarko will also constitute the thrust of this work. thus, this study intends to unravel the part of social taxation in the dislocation of the experimental process in the area.

Statement Of The Problem

The British subjection of Zaria in 1902 led to their irruption into Kagarko area. The British colonialists for proper and easy administration of the area conquered and introduced social programs. Among these programs introduced was the social duty policy. The social duty policy assessed social taxation in Kagarko.

The duty of social taxation roped every means of the peoples ‘ livelihood into the payment of levies. The fate of this duty of social taxation led to some visible changes in the area, similar as forced migrations, cash crop husbandry, change in political association and the decline of indigenous diligence.

still, these changes rather than bring development in the area, disintegrated the profitable, social and political development process of Kagarko. The impact of these led to the underdevelopment of the area. therefore, it’s these negative changes brought about by social taxation that constitute the problem of this study.

AIM OF THE exploration WORK

The points and objects of this exploration work are to

Explain and validate the processes involved in the assessment, collection and administration of levies in Kagarko District.

II. Examine what the people used in paying their levies( cash or kind) and who were the people tested? Were they males or ladies, income earners, growers and crafters?

III. Critically assess the recrimination of social taxation on the people of Kagarko District since taxation was a major source of profit for the British colonialist.

IV. Understand the changes brought about by social taxation in the area. Among these is the creation of the social frugality and its ruinous effect on the frugality of Kagarko People.