The National Revenue Authority (NRA) on Friday launched the reconstruction project of the South Sudan Tax Academy aimed at developing the capacity of the institution’s staff.
Located about 11 kilometres along the Juba-Yei road, the government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank, will spend 2.5 million US dollars to complete the construction of the academy, which was vandalized during the 2016 conflict.
Addressing reporters during the launch of the reconstruction project, Patrick Mogoya, the Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), said the academy is meant to develop the staff’s tax collection skills.
“The South Sudan Tax Academy will impart the requisite skills to the staff of the National Revenue Authority so that they will be able to collect revenue in a very professional and competent manner to the convenience of the South Sudan taxpayers and the business community,” Mogoya said.
“All the skills that are required for a modern tax administration will be imparted here,” he added.
According to Mogoya, the facility will include offices, classrooms and accommodation quarters for staff with a capacity of accommodating 50 staff and 20 to 150 students.
“Once the academy is completed, it will be able to accommodate here 50 staff. We will have classrooms and lecture rooms which can accommodate between 20 students at a time to 150,” he explained.
The Commissioner General said the facility also has conference and seminar halls that are meant to cut the expenses incurred when conducting meetings in hotels.
He said the government of South Sudan has so far released 1.5 million US dollars for the commencement of the work; meanwhile, African Development Bank will send the remaining 1 million USD.
The government has contracted ICE Engineering Company, a South Sudanese construction company, to complete the project within six months.