By: Amin Kef Sesay
In a latest development, on the 3rd January 2020 the Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust – NASSIT, Fuad Daboh, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the staff of the institution for their dedication, hard work and commitment in the provision of quality social protection for the people of Sierra Leone.
He said, "2019 has been an eventful year with so much accomplishment through your hard work and dedication. I am humbled to say thank you for your support.” The Director General made this declaration during his New Year message at the first town hall meeting in 2020 held on the 3rd January at the Institution's Regional Office, West.
Taking a retrospective look at the successes of the institution in 2019, the Director General commended the Board of Trustees for its diligent supervision of the activities of the Trust. "Our success can be attributed to the dynamism and commitment they displayed," the DG underscored.
Dilating on Human Resource and Administration, the DG heaped praises for the numerous moves undertaken in 2019 touching on staff training and development, welfare support to staff in times of sicknesses, death, bereavement, marriages and naming ceremonies, education and also technical support to other divisions in their daily duties.
In the area of the Finance Division, the DG extolled the Division for prudent financial management. "You were able to supervise the budget and budgetary controls, work with the Internal and External Auditors for the provision of 2017 and 2018 Financial Report and to also manage the liquidity position of the Trust. Thank you for a job well done, "Mr. Daboh stated.
Dabor said he was very pleased with the steady progress in the Investment and Project Division. He lauded the Division for being able to successfully pay the Afrinord Loan, revamp the Freetown International Conference Centre that is making huge income and the reengineering of some of their subsidiary companies such as the Sierra Estate Management Company- Semco. Today, he said, Semco is getting better. It has in addition to the Management of all NASSIT plazas in the country secured a contract to manage the Fourah Bay College student hostels.
Commending the Operations staff, Mr. Daboh expressed his satisfaction for the robust activities undertaken by the Division to enforce compliance, increase contribution collection, pursue non -complying institutions, participate in the teacher registration and collect over 34.6 Billion Leones as contribution arrears.
Noting the successes of the Public Affairs Division, the Director General applauded the Division for revitalizing and taking the lead in the re-branding processing. He said in 2019, Public Affairs was able to conduct Public Lectures to over 10,000 students in two universities, conduct face to face education to over 109 institutions across the country, hold the first Press Seminar, Organise an Employers Banquet and also popularize and support all activities of the Trust.
With regards the Customer Service Department, he said, they deserve commendation.
He went on to say that the department's swift response to their numerous customers, the hotlines, the customer service week celebration, the pensioners birth celebration and wishes and the charity at St Martin Orphanage in Port Loko were all very huge contributions to the 2019 success story.
He also praised the Legal and Board Secretariat for the provision of appropriate legal advice to the institution and their role in the establishment of the much anticipated Social Security Court.
Focusing on the Benefit Division, the Director General said, “No matter what we achieve in other divisions, if we fail to pay prompt and accurate benefits, we will remiss in our duty."
He appealed to them for collaborative work in order to overcome challenges.
In highlighting their 2020 plans he said apart from building on the current stride to improve performance, they intend to;
1. Commence operations in the North West Region Office in Port Loko,
2. Construct affordable Student Hostel for Universities across the country.
3. Partner with investors to construct ultra- modern Medical centre
4. Acquire an operating ICT platform.
5. Design and operationalize an appropriate scheme for the informal sector
6. Work with the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Ministry of Finance to design and establish a student loan scheme and to review our invest portfolio and the NASSIT Act.
He ended up thanking all and wishing them a blissful 2020.
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