Alieu Badou Jeng began working at the council in 2018 as an IT officer. Per his testimony last week Wednesday, BAC wrote to the Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA) requesting for an individual to work as an IT officer.
He testified that he was eventually transferred from GALGA to BAC as he was the only one with the required qualifications.
His office's functions include installation of software, the monitoring and maintaining of data system of the council, record keeping, installation of anti-virus and offering support to council staff on IT related issues.
Jeng relayed that 5C Energy provided the council with revenue collection devices for digital tax collection system, further explaining that 5C Energy first did presentation about their system before it was greenlighted by the council.
Jeng was taken to explain how the devices work. He explained that the devices have 3 modules – one for the market, another for license and one for property - which revenue collectors have access to in doing their collection.
He further explained that the information of the taxpayers is recorded in the system and the revenue collector, after making the collection, would print a ticket for issuance to the taxpayer.
“The machine will record every transaction they conduct. [It is] unlike the GTR system where the collectors would bring what they claim to have collected,” he said.
That panel of commissioners and able counsels were also informed that through the revenue collection device, the IT unit can monitor the revenue collectors and know how much they have collected.
He clarified that a revenue collector assigned to a particular area can only collect for that area.
“The system will capture the name of the person, the property, the location, date of collection, and amount collected,” he said.
Jeng also testified that the device allows for cash payment, cheque or bank transfer. He added that the devices only record information input by the revenue collectors, adding that it cannot input information by itself.
“Any transaction that is done immediately reflects in the dashboard,” the witness said, adding that the dashboard displays a summary of collections from rates, licenses to market.
The IT officer explained that the internal audit unit, the CEO and the IT unit all have access to the dashboard.
He explained that he sends the internal audit unit emails containing information of the collections, and this is what they use to do reconciliation with the collectors.
He said 5C gave the BAC 4 devices in 2020 and later provided them 96. He promised to provide the Commission with the full details of the devices and the revenue collectors.
“I have all the information with me,” he told the panel.
Mr Jeng also testified on the security of the data system at BAC, telling commissioners that they purchased anti-viruses last year, which have expired, and they are currently at the procurement stage to get new ones.
He also disclosed that they developed a draft policy about 2 years ago but are yet to discuss it with the management of BAC to review it.
