The National Revenue Authority (NRA) on Saturday, 21st September 2024, hosted its annual general staff meeting at the Freetown International Conference Centre at Aberdeen, Freetown.
The theme of this year’s meeting was “One Team, One Vision” and was aimed at updating the general staff on the Authority’s revenue collection performance for the first half of 2024, discussing strategies for achieving future targets and inspiring the team for the good of their mandate. Out of the nearly 850 staff, members across departments, units and from the field offices, participated in the one-day event.
It will be recalled that this is the second of such meetings since 2018. “As we gather here, it is important to reflect on our significant achievements during my first year. With your dedication and hard work, we exceeded the half-year target and for this, I say thank you. These numbers are not just figures; they signify our collective progress in serving taxpayers, and highlight the excellence we achieve when we work together,” the Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, Jeneba J. Bangura, emphasized.
The Commissioner General attributed the impressive revenue performance to several key factors, including enhanced compliance tracking, which witnessed a huge turnout in taxpayers’ outstanding bill settlement, the upgrade of HS Code to the HS 2022 version, leading to a 55% increase in Dutiable Import Value in June 2024. Compared to the same period in 2024, this has been a remarkable increase, she remarked. Additional factors included the increase in license fees in the mining sector, which rose from USD 500,000 to USD 1,000,000, and the partial implementation of the Finance Act 2024 policy measures.
Staff members including senior, middle-level and junior/support staff contributed to the discussions, providing an update on their respective departments/units and committing to upholding the theme of this year. The meeting emphasized the role of the NRA in national development and reminded the general staff membership that their commitment, dedication and teamwork will be very important to domestic revenue mobilization for the implementation of the Big Five Changers of the President’s vision, and the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024 to 2030. “We are doing great, but we can do much better to support the government. But to accomplish that, we must work as a team to improve integrity level and trust with our taxpayers; accountability to citizens”, the Commissioner General admonished.
The town hall meeting reaffirmed the NRA’s commitment to transparency and fostering a culture of inclusivity and engagement. As the Authority moves forward, implementing the strategies discussed, the collective spirit and dedication of its staff will remain key to its continued success in revenue collection. The meeting will be hosted annually.
