MONROVIA, September 20 (LINA) - The acting Commissioner for Customs Compliance at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has stressed the need for a revenue summit to “address the dependency syndrome” facing the country.

Mohammed Bility made the statement recently at a two-day stakeholders regional dialogue in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County in preparation for the first National Revenue Summit in November.

The impending summit is to stimulate a culture of voluntary tax compliance and to raise awareness on the importance of Domestic Resource Mobilization in light of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda, according to an LRA release issued here Tuesday.

“Over the time we have been very highly donor-dependent” on other countries “to support our development agenda,” the release quoted Bility as saying.

According to him, “It is not good for our country because in case of donor fatigue we will receive the biggest shocks.”

He added: “And we cannot just go to the summit without soliciting the views of you all, because you are the major stakeholders and we need your recommendations and suggestions so that we can include them in our agenda for the national revenue summit.”

The release said the series of dialogues will provide an opportunity to initiate discourse with various stakeholders, partners and taxpayers on a national Resource Mobilization Strategy.

The regional dialogues are expected to raise much-needed awareness on citizens' national responsibility and the need to widen the revenue base and expand the fiscal space of the country, LRA Policy Manager and Focal Person for the regional dialogues, Wellington Jah, said.

The discussions will solicit suggestions, comments and recommendations
from participants to inform the structure and organization of the national revenue summit, the Policy Manager noted..
LINA PR/JGT/TSS/PTK