Economic reforms committee orders legal revenue collection at Juba airport

The Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reforms has directed agencies operating at Juba International Airport to ensure all revenue collection complies with the law.

The committee made the call during a two-day assessment visit to the airport on Thursday to identify and close loopholes affecting government revenue.

It met officials from Civil Aviation, Customs, Immigration and the South Sudan Revenue Authority to review their achievements and challenges.

Speaking to SSBC after the meeting, committee chairperson Pieng Deng Kuol said the assessment aims to review taxes and charges collected at the airport and ensure they are provided for under the law.

“Any tax outside the Financial Act, we think that it is important for us really to discuss it and see how are we going to go about it. Because we are restricted by the law. We are restricted by the Act,” Pieng said.

He said agencies must clearly account for taxes and charges collected during each financial year.

The committee says Juba International Airport is an important source of government revenue, making the assessment necessary to determine how much is collected and where improvements are needed.

James Mawich, a member of the Economic Reforms Committee and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, said the assessment will also examine the performance of revenue-generating institutions operating at the airport.

“Juba International Airport is one of the important interests that is also generating revenue to the Republic of South Sudan. This is important for the committee to come and assess this important institution,” Mawich said.

He said the committee has received briefings from the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, Revenue Authority and Customs Department.

Mawich said the assessment will run for two days, after which the committee will compile a report outlining achievements, challenges and recommendations.

The committee says the recommendations will focus on improving revenue collection and addressing challenges faced by agencies operating at the airport.

The government relies heavily on domestic revenue to meet key obligations, including payment of salaries and the delivery of essential public services.