The standoff between two major state institutions in Sierra Leone, the National Revenue Authority (NRA) and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), has raised public concern about financial accountability and government relationships.

BBC Umaru Fofana, and former president for Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), expressed pity and humor at the situation in a post to social media.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” he stated. “Whatever it is, I feel sorry for NRA and EDSA even if I find the current situation equally funny.”

According to Umaru Fofana, the NRA has shut off the EDSA property due to unpaid taxes. Ironically, EDSA is experiencing serious financial difficulty due to unpaid electrical bills from numerous government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

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BBC Umaru Fofana called it a form of pity, saying that EDSA might consider shutting electricity supplies to criminal government offices.

“When they’re paid, they’ll also pay their taxes,” he said. The NRA and EDSA are both state-owned organizations with great responsibilities. The NRA collects and enforces tax revenue, and the EDSA manages and distributes the country’s power.

This disagreement is said to have revealed a structural issue in which governmental entities, which rely on one another’s services, struggle to make timely financial settlements, affecting effective service delivery.

Experts warn that high amount of internal debts between government agencies might weaken public trust, increase inefficiencies, and set a dangerous precedent if not tackled immediately.