NRA/MPs embark on tax education drive
As a way of regularly informing the public on what the National Revenue Authority has been doing over the years, the Authority, on Saturday, October 30th, took a total of six MPs to Makeni city, in the Bombali District on a ‘NRA Meet the People Tour’. The Members of Parliament include Alimamy Kamara, Eric Jumu, Edward Soluku, Chernor Bah and Buya Kamara. The session was held at the Makeni City Council Hall. (Photo: Members of Parliament, addressing taxpayers at the Makeni City Hall)
In his remarks, Hassan Omolaja from the GST Department revealed that it is the policy of the Acting Commissioner-General to ‘take the NRA to the people…’ especially with the help of Members of Parliament. A presentation on GST was made by Sheriff Kamara, GST Officer in Makeni. He explained how GST came into being in 2009. John Baimba Sesay from the Public Affairs Unit of the NRA spoke on how NRA was established in 2002 through an Act of Parliament. He reiterated that revenue collection is not just the function of NRA but that of ensuring a tax friendly environment for the taxpayer, and this, he said has been happening by even bring the GST to the door step of the tax payer and to make the work easier through the introduction of the ASYCUDA in the operations of Customs. He also gave an update on revenues collected by the NRA since it came into being in 2002. He spoke on plans to get the Domestic Tax Department by next year and explained that the NRA has operational departments like the Income Tax, GST and Customs and Excise.
Statements were also made by all the Members of Parliament. Hon Eric Jumu in his statement said, Makeni people are reluctant to paying their taxes because President is from Makeni and that there is no development without taxes. As MPs, he said, they have joined the campaign of encouraging people to pay their taxes because donors are now tired, giving us funds always, noting that we need to strengthen our domestic revenue collection ‘We make laws for the progress of the country…until we pay our forces well, corruption will stray happen…but monies will only come from what we pay as taxes…’he said
Hon Eric Jumu further explained, that Government ‘…likes its people and it is supporting you through the taxes you pay… You get free education when we pay our taxes…Makeni people should take the lead in tax payment because President is from Makeni…’ Hon Buya Kamara, in his own contribution made an appear to all and sundry to continue to pay their taxes ‘…If we had not created GST, it was going to be difficult to even meet needs of people like construction roads, paying the military and police etc…’ Hon Edward Suluku on his part said, as MPs they will continue to talk to people to meet their tax obligations ‘with the monies we give to NRA as taxes, we gonna meet our challenges…’
Hon Alimamy Kamara on his part said ‘…we don’t like to pay taxes and this is all over the world …’ He said, we should commend NRA for generating revenue for government since such monies are now used to develop this nation. As a government, he said, they are committed in providing the needs of the people but that people should pay their taxes
He also encouraged NRA officers to continue to work for national development…we should put frantic effort to strengthen our tax collection, adding that the future of this country is in your hands…if President is to succeed, you should continue to work hard at NRA as you have been doing…let us be serious about our tax base as a nation…’he admonished. Hon Chernor Bah on his part called on NRA not to relent in collecting revenue for government. He said, government will want to leave a legacy behind and that is why ‘people should pay their taxes…’ He called on Sierra Leoneans to ‘be proud of our country…’ by paying their taxes.
The meeting was climaxed by a question and answer session. ASP Augustine B. Tarawallie, Support Officer North for the Sierra Leone Police, thanked the NRA for educating them on the need to pay taxes. Participants were draw from schools, taxpayers and the security sector. Similar exercises have also been held in Bo and Kenema.
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