-NRA Commissioner General Asserts
The Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mathew Dingie, has disclosed that as of now revenue generation is on track but he cautioned that it is not always predictable due to fluctuations in businesses.
He made this disclosure at the weekly press briefing on Tuesday 18th March, 2025, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education at Youyi Building, Brookfields in Freetown.
Mr. Dingie also revealed that they achieved the 2024 revenue generation targets which he described as a plus for the Ministry of Finance and the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
He maintained that they are on track to achieve their first quarter benchmark on revenue mobilization.
The Financial Secretary pleaded to the public to always demand for their Goods and Services Tax receipts from supermarkets and other businesses that have GST machines.
Mr. Dingie said they have established a domestic revenue Task Force. He added that the Government of Sierra Leone is no longer going to leave profits with mining and importing businesses, implying that the government, mining companies and importing businesses will share the profits.
Speaking on behalf of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), the Commissioner General, Madam Jeneba J. Bangura said though the NRA fell short of meeting their targets in the moths of January and February,2025. ‘’However, the NRA has implemented 21 new reforms to correct all leakages,’’ she stated. Madam Bangura added that the 21 measures are both internal and external to boost revenue generation.
She disclosed that some importers were not using the correct documents when clearing their goods from the port as a result the government was losing the much need revenue.
She pointed out that the NRA is well ahead of digitalization which they will integrate with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Madam Bangura further disclosed that between 2022-2024 revenue generation increased by 100%
Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Hon. Mustapha Sellu maintained that his committee has constantly engaged the NRA Commissioner General to map out strategies to boost revenue mobilization, noting that they have also put measures in place to prevent leakages.
He pointed out that development partners are always monitoring on local revenue generation.
