NASSIT Delivers Awards To 20 Compliant Institutions
By Mackie M. Jalloh
On Friday 9th December 2022, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), at the Employers’ Banquet and Awards’ Ceremony held at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Bintumani Hotel in Freetown, officially delivered awards to 20 institutions for being compliant throughout the year to the trust. The ceremony was graced by a host of government officials, NASSIT Trustees, management and staff, members of the Fourth Estate and other distinguished guests.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General of NASSIT, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh,told his audience of the importance of the scheme to employees, and how subscribing to same was to their benefit. He commended the 20 employers for adhering to requirements of the Trust, furthering that during the course of the year the 20 institutions have been complying to their obligations to the fund in favour of their employees, as a result, they are now being honoured for it. He also expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice for setting up the NASSIT Industrial Court, which has been trying matters relating to non-compliance and handing down judgment on same.
Mohamed Fuaad Daboh furthered that though only twenty employers were selected for this year’s awards, this does not mean that other employers are not complying, but that criteria was set to identify the ‘best compliant employers’. This resulted in rigid examination of details, which took cognizance of correct registration of numbers of employees, prompt payment of contributions etc. and admonished those who were not selected to continue complying with the Trust, as they too stand a chance to become winners. This, he said, should serve as motivation to make them do more. Whilst encouraging private employers to voluntarily register their workers in the scheme, he warned that it would soon become mandatory for all to join the scheme.
Giving the Keynote address on behalf of the Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Minister of Labour, Alpha Timbo, whilst extending thanks and appreciation to President Julius Maada Bio, recalled that the scheme was established by the late President Alhaji Tejan Kabbah to provide social security services to pensioners and beneficiaries of the fund. He urged the compliant employers to continue to pay their contributions for their workers, and admonished those non-compliant employers to come on board, or they will face the NASSIT Industrial Court which has the mandate of looking into cases of non-compliant employers.
Minister Timbo said that the mandate of NASSIT is to register all public sector employers to ensure that they comply with their respective contributions to the fund in favour of their employees, as this scheme will help the beneficiaries in future after they may have left their employ.
Kobi Walker,President of Employers’ Federation, and also Managing Director of NP-SL, and Chairman of NASSIT Board of Trustees, called on employers to continue to support their workers by contributing monthly to the fund on their behalf, and warned non-compliant employers that they may face the Industrial Court soon if they continue to flout the law.
One of the winners of the award, Orange –SL, was presented with an award by Minister Timbo, who described them as “best telecom company compliant to the NASSIT Act No. 5 of 2001. We congratulate you and appreciate you for your contribution to the development of Sierra Leone over the years.”
The event was climaxedby the presentation of awards to the 20 employers, including Orange-SL, who are said to have fully complied with the NASSIT Act No.5 of 2001.
