By: Muctaru T. Kamara
Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel S. Jibao has disclosed that the institution has introduced several reforms in revenue generation and administration since he took over office in 2018, adding that the new technology they have introduced into the revenue collection system will not only increase revenue collection in the country, but also the sub region.
“We want to talk about the commencement of our reforms which will not only transform the way we collect revenue in this country but will significantly increase our revenue collection prowess in the sub region. We are talking about the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) and the Electronic Cash Register currently being rolled out by the NRA,” he said.
Commissioner Jibao said with the introduction of the ASYCUDA WORLD had reduced human interface at customs and increased the much needed revenue collection for the government.
He stated that the NRA recorded revenue increase by 36% in 2018 and that the revenue Gross Domestic Product ratio also increased by 1.5%, which according to him was not only historical but also comparable to any high performing revenue collecting country around the world.
He said after his appointment in 2018, they effected an institutional audit where they identified huge challenges of financial constraints with notable arrears to suppliers, grossly understaffed management and officers, office accommodation and procurement challenges, among others.
The commissioner General noted that for many years now the integrity of the institution has been questioned, hence they have reconstituted and made effective a disciplinary committee that presides over reported cases of corruption within the institution.
He said the committee laisse with the Anti-corruption to curb corruption, adding that they want to make NRA a modern institution of excellence with credibility to actualize President Bio’s dream.
He added that the sour relationship that was existing between the NRA and the Ministry of Finance was now a thing of the past, adding that such has enhanced tax administration and policy formulation in the institution.
Dr. Jibao however mentioned that challenges like investment flows, exchange rate pressures, slower economic growth and sluggish recovery from the iron ore sector among others, were still hovering in the country, but that concerted efforts by government and the private sector were being made to stabilize the situation.
He noted that from January 1 to May 31st 2019, the NRA raised Le2.229 trillion, 36.5% higher than same period in 2017and already higher than what was collected for the whole first half of 2017 by Le240 billion, with June collection yet to come in.
He dilated on the recent reforms undertaken by the institution including the ASYCUDA World, which, he said is a web-based advanced version of revenue collection that comes with many.
He disclosed that the NRA was on the verge of implementing a Domestic Tax Preparer Scheme to aid formalization of Small and Medium Enterprises, and that they were also on the move for the implementation of a national taxpayer day with series of tax clinics and tax payer education programs.
“Despite the COVID 19 that is ravaging economies right across the world, NRA is still generation revenue that would be compared to 2017, 2018 when the world was in normalcy”
