Annual Conference:

Finance Minister Hails Performance of Taxation & Customs Sectors

Minister of Finance, Motaze Louis Paul

The minister of finance, Motaze Louis Paul has hailed the Taxation and Customs sectors for their role in financing the state budget. Addressing participants at the Joint Annual Conference of Internal and External Services of the Ministry of Finance holding at the Yaounde Conference Centre on Friday, Motaze lauded Taxation and Customs officials for commendable revenue collections in 2018.

                The Minfi noted that both sectors exceeded their revenue collection projections in 2018, something he described as a feat, given the challenges of the times, marked by insecurity in most parts of the country including notably the conflict in NW and SW and Boko Haram insurgency in the North.

                The minister noted that while the taxation sector brought in 1913 billion cfa francs as opposed to the 1912 billion that was projected, the customs collected 803 billion fcfa, one billion above their expected target of 802 billion.

                The minister added that with these financing of the state budget, the state was able to service much of its internal and external debts, apart from financing other important projects including notably the financing of the 7 October 2018 presidential election and the management of the state’s payroll through a physical head count of government employees.

                Holding on the theme: “Budgetary Balance: Stakes, Challenges and Perspectives”, Minister Motaze told participants at the Annual Conference that ensuring budgetary balance will be the challenge in 2019 especially giving the commitments of the state at national and global levels.

                Motaze therefore urged his collaborators to be pro-active in the new financial year. He said the ministry of finance must adequately occupy the driving seat of government action in 2019. This will entail eradicating corruption and counter-productive habits in all their forms, he said.

                Motaze emphasized on the need for results-oriented action by all his collaborators if the Minfi must surmount its budgetary challenges in 2019.

                Activities during the two-day Annual conference included round tables and meetings by officials of the different sectors that make up the Minfi including Taxation, Customs and Treasury. All the meetings were held on the theme “Budgetary Balance: Stakes, Challenges and Perspectives.

                The two-day Annual Conference that ended on Friday, culminated in the ceremony to present New Year Wishes to the Minister of Finance, Motaze Louis Paul and the Minister Delegate, YaoubaAbdoulaye. Senior officials and staffers of central, devolved and external services of the Minfi took turns to have a handshake with the Ministers and to wish them Happy New Year.