National Revenue Authority Board Pays Courtesy Call on Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio, Updates on Revenue Mobilization Efforts
Board Chairman Mr. Kabineh Kallon, in his opening remarks, expressed gratitude to President Bio for granting them audience and congratulated him on his recent election as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. He noted that the visit was to update the President on the NRA's work, acknowledging that despite the numerous challenges faced by the authority, it has remained committed to mobilizing revenue for the State.
Commissioner-General Madam Jeneba Kamara reaffirmed the NRA's commitment to fulfilling its mandate. She acknowledged the operational challenges but assured the President that the authority is working diligently to enhance revenue collection and improve compliance across the board.
In his response, President Bio welcomed the NRA delegation and expressed appreciation for the briefing. He emphasized the critical importance of the NRA's work to the country's development.
'Your sole mandate is to mobilize revenue for the State. The State can only function effectively when it has the resources to do so,' the President stated. He described the NRA as the 'breadbasket of the nation' and urged the Board to remain vigilant and proactive in generating income that can be used to finance national development priorities.
Board member Madam Memuna Rogers, also addressed the meeting, highlighting the progress and initiatives made in maximizing revenue mobilization. She further explained that the NRA had instituted enhanced compliance measures to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations, a move that will be critical in meeting next year's revenue targets.
The visit reaffirmed the NRA's commitment to supporting national development through consistent and improved revenue generation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
37 minutes ago
- Zawya
Safer borders, stronger trade for West African Women
Every day in West Africa, thousands of women walk through border posts carrying produce like cassava, tomatoes, or maize to sell in neighbouring countries. They are unrecognized but vital parts of the region's food systems and economies. But many face harassment at checkpoints, along with demands for bribes. Border processes may not be in a language that they speak. The border crossings themselves have poor infrastructure. And women often have limited access to banking or other financial services. Coordinated efforts are underway to tackle these challenges within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Forty regional officials met from 24 to 26 February 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to endorse a slate of solutions, including: establishing legal clinics at border posts providing gender-sensitivity training for customs and transport officials launching simplified declaration systems for small traders deploying visual, mobile-accessible tools to help women comply with trade procedures engaging men as allies 'We need to ensure regional trade policy becomes a tool for inclusive growth, where women are not just participants, but empowered leaders,' said Sandra Oulate, Director of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC). The International Trade Centre (ITC) is working with ECOWAS and the main German development agency GIZ on the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade (EAT) programme. The goal is implement solutions like these to make cross-border trade safer, simpler, and more inclusive for women. The workshop brought together representatives from ECOWAS, national gender and agriculture focal points, chambers of commerce, and development partners including ITC, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), West Africa Association for Cross-Border Trade, in Agro-forestry-pastoral, fisheries products and Food (WACTAF), and the West African Food Systems Resilience Programme. Salimata Thiam, an EGDC representative, said participants were encouraged to 'identify concrete actions that could be implemented within the framework of the EAT project to boost the role of women in regional trade'. ITC presented several tools under development: a new regional trade guide for women, a policy paper on women in agrifood trade, and findings from gender-sensitive border assessments to support informed policymaking. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.
Gulf Business
5 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Drake & Scull posts sharp profit drop but wins major contracts
Drake & Scull International (DSI) has reported a sharp drop in profitability for the first half of 2025, posting a net profit of Dhs6.5m compared to Dhs3.8bn in the same period last year. The prior-year result was heavily boosted by a one-time gain linked to the company's agreed restructuring plan. The MEP, oil and gas, and water and wastewater treatment contractor saw revenue climb 57 per cent year-on-year to Dhs77.9m, supported by project momentum in India, Tunisia, Romania, and Jordan. Gross profit rose to Dhs5.9m, up from Dhs3.7m a year earlier, on the back of improved cost management and execution. Despite the top-line growth, general and administrative expenses increased to Dhs24.5m from Dhs21.2m, driven by higher legal, professional, and business development costs. Total assets declined 2.7 per cent to Dhs629.5m as of 30 June 2025, while total equity rose 4.4 per cent to Dhs158.4m. Cash and bank balances stood at Dhs309.2m. Read: Muin El Saleh, group CEO of Drake & Scull International, said: 'Our performance in the first half of 2025 reflects the successful execution of our strategic priorities. The 57 per cent revenue growth demonstrates our ability to capitalize on opportunities in our core markets while maintaining disciplined cost management. We are particularly proud of our recent project awards, which include a landmark Dhs1bn contract in the UAE, the North Balqa Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jordan (Dhs215m), and a water treatment plant in Maharashtra, India (Dhs169m). These achievements showcase our diversified capabilities and strong market position across multiple sectors and geographies.' He added: 'The strong momentum from these significant wins provides a solid foundation for the second half of the year. We remain focused on delivering quality projects, optimizing our operations, and creating sustainable value for our shareholders.' The results underline the impact of last year's restructuring windfall on DSI's bottom line, with the latest figures reflecting a more normalized earnings profile. The company continues to pursue its recovery strategy, securing new project awards while navigating higher operating costs and the legacy of its restructuring process.
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Salik's Q2 profit jumps 50% on new gates and dynamic toll pricing
Dubai toll operator Salik has reported a nearly 50 per cent annual surge in its second-quarter net income, driven by a sharp rise in revenue from new toll gates in the emirate and the variable pricing system it introduced this year. Net income for the three months to the end of June climbed above Dh400 million ($109 million), the company said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday to the Dubai Financial Market, where its shares trade. Year-on-year revenue for the reporting period also jumped 45.6 per cent to Dh775.7 million, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) – a central metric of a company's profitability – increased by nearly 51 per cent to Dh545.3 million to record Salik's best quarterly Ebitda. 'Salik's strong performance … underscores the strength of its resilient business model and high operational efficiency … further solidifying its robust financial position,' said Mattar Al Tayer, the chairman of Salik's board. For the first six months of the year, Salik said its profit climbed by 41.5 per cent annually to Dh770.9 million, while first-half revenue grew almost 40 per cent to about Dh1.53 billion. The company's Ebitda for the six-month period rose 44.2 per cent to nearly Dh1.07 billion. The board of the company, which is the sole toll operator in the emirate, also recommended a cash dividend equivalent to its first-half profit, which translates into 10.278 fils earning per share, Salik said. New gates boost Total chargeable trips during the April-June quarter hit 160.4 million, up 1.6 per cent annually. Trips during the peak period − when a toll of Dh6 per trip is charged – grew 46.7 per cent to 57.7 million, which Salik said was driven by the opening of two new toll gates in the emirate. Salik introduced the new gates on Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and at Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road in November. The company followed the move in January this year with the introduction of a new dynamic pricing scheme that includes free passage for vehicles from 1am to 6am. The toll operator said its revenue from fines issued to motorists during the second quarter rose 15.7 per cent year-on-year to Dh134.3 million, with net violations recorded during the period hitting about 808,500. Total ancillary revenue, on the other hand, reached Dh8.7 million in the first half, underpinned by earnings from parking partnerships with Emaar Malls and Parkonic, particularly from higher volume at The Dubai Mall. Earnings outlook Salik has also upgraded its guidance for the full year 2025, and said it expects revenue to grow between 34 per cent and 36 per cent, compared to its earlier guidance of between 28 per cent and 29 per cent. Ebitda margins are now projected in the range of 68.5 per cent to 69.5 per cent. 'Our new guidance underscores our confidence in Salik's outlook and future growth potential, particularly given our commitment to strengthening our non-core offering and exploring new opportunities within ancillary revenues,' Salik's chief executive Ibrahim Al Haddad said. Salik's shares settled 1.87 per cent lower at Dh6.30 on the DFM at the end of trade on Wednesday.
