Several citizens in Eastern Equatoria state have said they expect the new state revenue commissioner to ensure transparency in the collection of revenues for the benefit of the population in the state.
Last week, the governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore, issued two decrees establishing state corporations and appointing commissioners general to head them.
The two decrees, number 3 and 4/2021, seen by Radio Tamazuj and dated 27th January 2021, appointed Paska Hifita Oduho as commissioner general for the state revenue authority, while Titos Lokwachuma Loteam was reappointed as commissioner general for the state investment corporation.
Michael Oromo David, a resident of Torit, told Radio Tamazuj earlier today, “My message to the new commissioner general of the revenue authority is that she should take serious steps and she should not be corrupt like other people because we know wisdom comes from God. So if you are placed there, it means people trust you that there is something that you can do for them that is why you are brought in the post. She should bring these things to people.”
“The money will be brought from the Nimule and Tseretenya borders and any other part including from markets in the state. All of it will be coming to her so she is supposed to take serious steps for the money to come to the state, but instead, all this money is collected and taken to Juba and then those of Juba plan for salaries,” he added.
Micahel Obusuk Pasquale, another Torit citizen, said he expects commodity prices to decrease through effective and transparent collecting of revenues because in the past too much taxes have been levied on traders and it impacts negatively on the poor.
“We expect the prices of the commodities to be adjusted, we know that they are very high but we expect reductions at least. We don’t need to charge traders from border points, the more we charge them the more they charge on prices of commodities in the market,” Obusuk said. “The money collected from the border points should pay for salaries of civil servants within the state on time. If the money delays people will start looting on the roads.”
Flora Sebit Jada, the executive director of Women Agency for Progress Organization (WAPO) welcomed the appointment of the first female commissioner but stressed the need for reforms in the sector to clear all the corrupt individuals from the system
“I thank the governor for appointing the female commissioner for the revenue authority and we expect her to do good work. Firstly, she should put the system right. The policies have to be implemented. The corrupted officials have to be fired. We welcome her as a woman and we need more women to come,” Sebit said.
Paska Hifita Oduho, the appointed commissioner-general for the revenue authority, said she will exert more efforts despite the many challenges associated with the public financial sector.
“We will try our best in our new assignment. It is not easy, I know that the expectations of the people are too high and this is a very challenging institution. Anything that deals with financial institutions always calls for the public to see whether we are going to deliver,” The new revenue boss said.
“We will urge cooperation between us and the investment corporation to see that on my side as the commissioner for revenue authority that revenues are collected so that we can boost our economy in the state at least. It is not easy, we are operating under a lot of challenges and we cannot promise 100 percent that we are going to deliver but we ask for God’s guidance to be with us at all times,” Commissioner Hifita added.