Kiir lauded for remarks stressing ‘openness’ in collection of non-oil revenue

JUBA – The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has lauded President Salva Kiir Mayardit for his remarks in which the president stressed importance of transparency in the collection of non-oil revenues.

In a meeting with Dr. Patrick Mugoya, the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Kiir said “the biggest challenge facing the NRA is lack of transparency in revenues collections” and directed the NRA leadership “to address the loopholes and collect the revenues with transparency and integrity.”

In a statement, the CEPO welcomed the president’s directive and lauded him for openness in the collection of non-oil revenue which has seen increase in recent months.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization appreciates H.E. the President for remarkable cautioning on matters of transparency on our national non-oil revenue administration and management,” the CEPO said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.

“The President raised a very valued concern about openness in administering affairs of non-oil revenue collection and saving. Openness or transparency in the governance of revenue and public funds is the cornerstone for measuring efficiency and effectiveness of institutional performance for meeting standards of best practices for successful and sustained non-oil revenue collection and saving,” says Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPOT.

“Openness or transparency in the affairs of revenue collection and saving it concrete on the foundation of non-interference in the affairs of the revenue governance in any form being it political, procedures for expending decision and sometime saving defense and security priority,” he stressed.

The outspoken activist further pointed out that “For a sustainable and transparent administration of our non-oil revenue collection and saving to take place including strong stand for fighting corruption, it primarily requires top political leadership support for smooth function of the National Revenue Authority. NRA is weak when it lacks top political leadership support for executing their tasks professionally without any form of interference.”

The CEPO further urged Kiir “to avail political leadership on protecting NRA from any non-interference with their functions including political leadership for genuine fighting of corruption around management of public funds in any institution of the government.”

“One of the areas that require proper dialogue for improvement of non-revenue sustainable collection and saving is the difference between the state and national revenue administration on items of taxation at each level of the government. CEPO is urging H.E. the President to commission serious state revenue institutions and NRA dialogue for reaching decision on proper revenue administration and management

“Finally, CEPO is keeping raising voice on the government commitment on enhancement of transparency and accountability on matters of revenue administration and management including genuine fighting of corruption.”