Frank talk: the guillotine hanging over the NRA

As Sierra Leone continues to reel under what experts have referred to as the “second round effect” of the world financial crisis (one of the worst in history), adversely affecting our balance of trade deficit with a subsequent sharp drop in our foreign exchange earnings, the National Revenue Authority (NRA) appears to be beating against the odds to collect the revenue needed to lift this nation from the unmerciful fangs of penury and deprivation. (Photo: Alieu Sesay)

The relative successes recorded by the institution over the past two years have vindicated President Koroma’s decision to appoint a relatively less known but quite energetic tax expert, Alieu Sesay as Commissioner General of the NRA.

The young Alieu Sesay’s style of leadership and exemplary performance in an institution caught in the quagmire of collecting revenue to salvage the plight of an over-expectant populace negates the notion that only big people do big things.    

Figures made available to the New Citizen indicate that, in the heat of the world recession last year, the Income Tax Department of the NRA collected a staggering Le 615, 661 against a target of 638,868 Billion Leones whilst the Customs Department scooped a whooping Le 362, 118 to complement a target of Le 370,905 Billion.

The Non Tax revenue recorded for the very first time in the history of Sierra Leone’s revenue collection collected the sum of Le 57, 167 coming very close to its target of Le 71,226 Billion.

The above figures totaled Le 615,661 Billion in revenue collected by the NRA, closing in on the Le 638, 868 target in 2008.

The NRA may not have reached or exceeded last year’s target, but indicators so far seem to suggest that, with a buoyant economic climate which even my illiterate Grand Uncle, Pa. Musa in distant Gbonkolenken knows is a prerequisite for enhanced revenue generation, the NRA is set to achieve the unimaginable in Sierra Leone’s revenue collection history. Alieu Sesay and his strong team of experts would definitely achieve gargantuan progress to save this nation from years of decadence as a result of the activities of people who think they had the divine right to continue pilfering our meager resources. 

Now, here are some facts to support my claims.

Just within the first half of this year, the NRA has already netted a total of Le322, 157 Million, exceeding a target of Le 316, 067 Million of collected revenue.

Out of this figure, the Income Tax Department scooped a hefty Le 99,280 Million just a little less than its 100,993 target. The Customs and Excise Department continue to surprise us with another collection of Le 202, 773, Million, completely eclipsing the Le 190, 634 Million target, while the Non Tax Revenue Department collected Le 20, 104 in favour of a Le 24,440 target.

In spite of the rapid fall in the export and sale of Sierra Leone’s minerals especially diamonds, the mines department managed to bag Le, 398, nearing its target of Le 6,792.

Other departments within the authority collected Le 14, 706 towards a Le 17.648 Million target.

With these developments it was not surprising therefore to see the head of the International Monetary (IMF) mission recently in Sierra Leone to conduct the fifth review under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement loudly commending the country’s revenue collection and budget expenditure in the midst of a financial crisis that threatens the survival of every nation on earth.

The release read in part, “……the fiscal policy performance for the first half of 2009 was in line with the program. Domestic revenue collection exceeded the target, while expenditures were within budget limits. The mission welcomed the decision to transfer all off-budget revenue to the Consolidated Fund.”

The release further stated, “Looking ahead , the mission agreed with the authorities on the framework for the 2010 budget which maintains the focus on increased spending on  primary capital projects and social sectors, while remaining consistent with the macroeconomic stability.” The release also maintained that the introduction of a Goods and Services Tax (GST) by 1^st January was an important step that would inevitably broaden our tax base.

The New Citizen has also learnt that the Income Tax Department is on the verge of exceeding its target for the first quarter of the second half of the fiscal year.

And in case I forget, the much talked about automated system to centralize the authority’s operations is set to salvage the age old problem of revenue leakages in the system. The system, also known as ASSYCUDA++ would particularly seek to enhance Customs and Excise operations by making the process of clearing goods at the Quay a lot easier.

At this point, we can only say that unlike some other state institutions that have not enjoyed much success due to some very obvious reasons, Alieu Sesay’s NRA has demonstrated that they can deliver even in difficult times and for this reason the NRA deserves the right to be proud and stand tall among other institutions.

We also hope that this trend will continue to give every Sierra Leonean a reason to be proud of and which is; belonging to a nation that can make use of its own resources to develop itself. Our perennial reliance on foreign donors has not done justice to the reason why we are regarded as a sovereign and independent state. We believe that a serious domestic revenue collection by the NRA can rescue us from this unfortunate situation.

With these positive strides in the midst of a harsh global economic climate which Sierra Leone, as one of the poorest nations remains vulnerable to, the NRA has definitely exceeded the expectation of ordinary citizens.

But alas readers, the Commissioner General Allieu Sesay has endeavored to desperately achieve these goals only to have him now on the verge of being discredited to the superlative degree. Oh God come to earthly judgment and direct the investigation process from the hypothetical frame to a more reasonable of it.

The Value Added Tax known in Sierra Leone as the Goods and Services Tax is another development in the NRA undertaken by Allieu Sesay for the effective and efficient collection of seven taxes that were once collected under counterproductive measures. Here again the NRA C.G has been very enthusiastic in working towards its final conclusion since 2007.

Dismally however, it is very unfortunate to know that at this material time of writing, the brain and master planner of these watersheds that will soon become reservoirs of our development – Alieu Sesay is on the verge of losing his job. The reasons behind the suspension are far away from the truth. The whole accusation is part of a diabolic plot to embarrass and eliminate the progressive, hardworking and courageous NRA boss.

Some say he doesn’t listen to anyone but who really are these so-called self appointed advisers of the Commissioner General? Sycophants? Am sorry, but Allieu Sesay will never listen so you can help bring down the guillotine.  

by Samuel Serray

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