Deputy Information Minister Dr. Jacob Maiju Korok briefing the press. (Photo: Radio Tamazuj)

The cabinet has adopted a new human resource policy for the National Revenue Authority (NRA), to modernize recruitment and promote integrity in the tax agency.

The move is the latest government effort to maximize non-oil tax collection as oil proceeds fall due to the global economic crisis.

Deputy Information Minister Jacob Maiju Korok – who spoke on Friday after a cabinet meeting said the new policy has three schemes; the NRA scheme of services, NRA staff regulation and Code of Conduct.

“This is what was presented today (Friday) to the council of ministers, and at the end of the presentation, we unanimously approved the memo of the Minister of Finance and Planning,” said Maiju.

The information official said the new policy will facilitate efficient operation of the tax agency and help maximize revenue collection as the government tries to shift reliance on declining oil-revenues.

“This policy is very important and critical and it will help in solving the challenges affecting the National Revenue Authority and also it will facilitate the activities of the NRA.”

“It will help address the issues of recruitment and promote and facilitate day-to-day operation of the NRA because NRA is actually is the backbone of our economy so all these laws will reshape the NRA so that it can work in efficient manner so that it generate revenue all over the country.”

Last year, the National Revenue Authority moved its services online, introducing an electronic portal to handle registration for tax identification number and payment of taxes among others.

Oil revenues account over 90% of national budget but a sharp fall in global oil prices and the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic have led rise in commodity prices and exchange rate according to experts.