Only when state institutions perform – the NRA in perspective

The social-economic and political development of this country must be seen as something that depends on the collaborative efforts of us all as a people, irrespective of our political beliefs and convictions. For a very long time, we have been moving towards achieving growth at all levels. Some few weeks ago, I implored us all as a nation to see the need of supporting those state institutions which were created by the state all in an effort to achieve the growth we need. (Photo: Pa John Baimba Sesay)

For quite a while, we have seen how we have been maintaining the last but one position when it comes to the United Nations rating African countries on how they have been developing. This, we have not been appreciating at all and in that regard, we have thought it necessary to work towards reaching the apex of this rating.

Come to look at it, when a country is seen fasting developing, the credit is not only been given to the government of the day, but to the people of that nation. We have kept referring to our sister African countries, with specific reference to Ghana and the Gambia in terms of development. We must all note that these countries are today the models of development in the sub region because, the citizens of these countries have been working assiduously to ensure they achieve they expected goals.

Over the last decades, Sierra Leone has also been taking steps towards economic and social growth. No wonder the creation of institutions like the NRA, NaCSA, et al. When we look at what these institutions have been doing, we all could accept that they have been trying their best in taking Sierra Leone to its rightful position.  I shall look at what institutions like the National Commission for Social Action and even NASSIT have been doing in ensuring that we develop, but in another piece but let me attempt to highlight some of the efforts of the National Revenue Authority in Sierra Leone’s development agenda.

As I stated in my previous article on NRA, this is a body established by an Act of Parliament 2002 to, among other functions generate revenue for government in the form of collecting taxes from people. One fact which we cannot dispute is that, taxes have a prominent role to play in the growth of a nation. We need to only look at the developed world and evaluate the commitment of its citizens in the area of tax payment. Though we have started inculcating the culture of tax payment, we still have a long way to go in this direction, taking into consideration the fact that, most often than not, people would prepare to smuggle goods into and out of the country, thus depriving the state of its needed cash. Evading tax is an offence and to me, it is a ‘crime against the state’. This is a sad realty.

From the viewpoint of being a patriot, I must commend the National Revenue Authority for its effort in contributing to national development. Only recently, we learnt that the Authority has generated over three hundred billion Leones in the form of taxation for the central government. And this cash, we must note, is what our government has been using to meet our needs. Irrespective of what plans a government has for its people, it can only be in a position to meet those plans when it has the money. We have also relied so much on foreign aid for the socio-economic development of this country. It is no gainsaying that Sierra Leone is a donor driven country; 40% of our budgetary allocation is got from support from international community and the remaining 60% is got from what we have been generating at home. So if an institution like the National Revenue Authority has not been working hard, despite the challenges it is faced with, then it was going to be disastrous for us as a people. And this is more the reason we should be seen to support this particular institution.

In fact not only that, even with its current effort to generate revenue for the government, the National Revenue Authority has also been working towards making Customs and Excise Department’s operation simple and less time consuming for the ordinary man in the country. This is being ensured by the introduction of the Automated System for Customs Data. (ASYCUDA) ++ Project. This will ensure a very fast way of transacting business with Customs, and in a way will reduce the time one spends when clearing goods at the quay. ASYCUDA is a computer software package that is used by Customs Administrations in many countries, in processing documents which relate to export and import of goods. It practically ensures fast clearance of goods, and at the same time accounting for revenue collected and compilation of trade statistics.

This system of customs operation has been in several countries including Jordan. In Jordan in 1999 for instance, an evaluation on Computerization of Customs Procedures and Data for improving revenue was conducted. Some of the lessons learnt from that evaluation included but not limited to; the need for high-level policy support and commitment. In the case of Sierra Leone, there is the high-level support from the relevant authorities, and this is at least appreciable.

In Uganda for instance, research also indicates that the system was introduced way back in 1996 and is currently operational in areas like Kampala Long Room, Kampala Railway Goodshed, et al. The new verification system, ASYCUDA ++ was implemented in 2002. This version consists of several modules, including Declaration, Accounts, and Statistics etc.

Primarily, the introduction of the ASYCUDA ++ system into the operations of the Customs and Excise Department of the National Revenue Authority is based on a number of reasons; it ensures that all of the Customs functions are automated or computerized thus providing prompt service delivery to the public. It also makes for the use of international codification and single administrative document that will definitely replace the plenty declaration forms presently being used at the customs department.

There is also the Income Tax Department of the NRA, which has been making strides also in recent times. This department has been able to make some success stories over the years. Now, the Acting Commissioner for the department, Ibrahim Sorie Kamara has promised that his department will continue with its strides to generate more revenue for the smooth operation of the central government. This in itself is encouraging to say the least.

In 2008, there were several in-house trainings on a frequent basis for staff with a view to updating operatives on recent laws, changes in processes and procedures on a routine basis. Again, there was the introduction of Tax Compliance Stickers for commercial vehicles and motor bikes in all office of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority, both in Freetown and the provinces. This largely helped in increasing revenue collection in this direction

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is also underway, with plans to introduce it in January 2010. GST will go a long way in helping generate more revenue for the central government. And all of these successes have been in operation within the NRA as a result of the collaborative effort of all and sundry. And all of these developments and initiatives are part of the NRA’s Modernization Plan.  So in a whole, the NRA has helped in putting the country in its current footing.  

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