By Bida Elly David
South Sudan National Revenue Authority (NRA) Chairperson of Board of Directors has warned staff against infighting, urging them to embrace teamwork to treasure the Country’s economy.
The tax institution was recently hit by internal disagreements between the staff and the administration of the former commissioner-general Patrick Kennedy Mugoya.
Dr. Mugoya’s administration attempted to implement a new recruitment policy, but employees protested.
The contentious policy entailed that employees who are already occupying positions should re-apply to get their job back through an independent recruitment firm.
During reception of the new commissioner general of the institution, Mr. Athian Diing Athian, senior officials slammed the former administration over the new recruitment policy.
However, the chairperson of the NRA board of directors, Stephen Dhieu Dau, told the revenue authority staff that grudges among employees reduce performance and spoil reputations.
He said discrimination, nepotism, and other forms of corruption should not be practices that tarnish the progress of the national revenue authority.
Dhieu said every employee within the NRA should be treated with respect and honor by their respective supervisors and line managers, regardless of race, color, or religion.
“We have to talk about our grievances towards certain policies of the NRA, but as the chairman of the board of directors, I want to bring to your attention that South Sudan and the NRA are not in isolation since we are regionally and internationally recognized,” he said.
The board of directors’ chair stated that the NRA is an independent institution that should not be politicized since it collects revenues to serve the nation.
“When we talk, we don’t talk emotionally; rather, we talk about the truth that will remain one day when we and the current employees leave,” he advised.
However, Dhieu urged the employees within the authority to respect any new law that the government develops to guide their conduct as they serve.
According to him, acting against laws formulated by the concerned authority would hinder the collection of revenues and cripple the country’s economy.
“We have institutions that will correct us. All of us are human beings. I can be wrong, and you can be wrong. The former CG was seen based on laws and competency but not personal relationships,” he noted.
Mr. Dhieu said that no institution will victimize its own staff without genuine reasons, noting that any director, commissioner general, or supervisor who is traced as discriminating shall face the law.
“I, as the chairperson of the board of directors, my colleagues, and you were told to go and correct things, and we should work together to clear the doubts,” he noted.