Recently, a team of government officials, including the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, raised serious concerns over the poor revenue collection by the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
During engagements with NRA management regarding the low revenue performance in the first two months of the year, Minister Bangura delivered a strong message from President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, expressing disappointment with the revenue shortfall.
He highlighted the alarming fact that the country’s revenue-to-GDP ratio stands at approximately 8.1%. Given the high levels of government expenditure, he stressed the urgent need to improve revenue mobilization.
The Minister further pointed out that, over the years, the government has invested in various reforms, including technology-driven solutions, to enhance tax collection, administration, and management. He urged NRA staff to take responsibility and fully implement tax laws and reforms to bridge the revenue gap.
Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie emphasized the need for NRA to maximize the use of the systems provided, noting that every individual has a role to play in generating the much-needed revenue to sustain the state. He reassured NRA of the Ministry of Finance’s full support in this regard.
NRA Board Chair, Kabineh Kallon, clarified that revenue targets serve as baselines and not the final expectations. He, therefore, appealed to NRA staff to ensure proper tax collection by strictly adhering to the laws.
Deputy Minister of Finance II, Bockarie Kalokoh, also emphasized the need for improved revenue collection in key areas such as GST, PAYE, and Customs.
Commissioner General of the NRA, Jeneba Bangura, revealed that since January 2025, there has been a 25% shortfall in revenue collection-a trend that must not continue in the coming months. She acknowledged that the visit from the Ministry of Finance leadership reaffirmed the President’s position on the matter.
During the team’s visit to the Customs Department at the port, the ITS scanning facility, and the Domestic Tax Department, discussions centered around compliance, enforcement, the use of technology solutions, and the conduct of NRA staff.
However, a major issue affecting revenue generation remains internal leakages. Without a strong internal management system to curb these inefficiencies, revenue mobilization will continue to face significant challenges.
