Kiir directs ministers to fix revenue collection loopholes

President Salva Kiir has directed three senior government officials to find solutions to address challenges hindering the collection of revenue from the non-oil sector.

In a meeting at the State House Monday, Kiir told two Ministers to complement efforts by the National Revenue Authority to collect more revenue from the non-oil sector.

The directive comes amid concerns over plummeting prices of oil, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the country’s revenue, in the global market.

Kiir directed the Minister of Finance and Planning Agak Achuil, Minister of Trade and Industry Kuol Athian Mawien, and the Commissioner-General of NRA, Dr Patrick Mugoya, to discuss pressing issues pertaining to the collection of non-oil revenue.

After an extensive discussion on Monday, the Minister of Finance and Planning Agak Achuil told the Presidential Press Unit that they were sent back to discuss further and find solutions to the revenue collection loopholes.

South Sudan’s economy suffered a shrinking growth in the first and second quarters of the year 2021.

According to a financial report prepared by the former Minister of Finance and Planning, the growth picked up in the third quarter.

The recovery, according to the former minister, was attributed to an improved policy environment, and the rise in price and volume of oil production.

The rebound of the economy, Athian said, was also illustrated by the increased volume of tax revenue collected by the NRA. He notes “However, this positive effect might also be due to improvements in tax collection as a result of new leadership at NRA.”