The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) witnessed a major leadership transition on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, as outgoing Director General, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, formally handed over to the newly appointed Director General, Chernor Mamoud Jalloh Outgoing Board Chairperson, Madam Isata Marah, also transferred responsibility to incoming Board Chairperson Madam Janneh Jabati during a ceremony held at NASSIT headquarters on Walpole Street in Freetown.
In his farewell address, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh urged the incoming administration to protect the long-term sustainability of Sierra Leone’s social security scheme while keeping contributors and pensioners at the centre of the institution’s operations.
Reflecting on his seven years in office, he described leading NASSIT as one of the greatest honours of his professional life. He said the position allowed him to head an institution entrusted with protecting the welfare and retirement security of thousands of Sierra Leonean workers.
Mohamed Fuaad Daboh recalled that when President Julius Maada Bio appointed him in May 2018, he accepted the responsibility knowing that NASSIT is more than an ordinary public institution. He described the Trust as the custodian of workers’ hopes, contributions and retirement security.
According to him, his administration pursued a transformation agenda based on good governance, financial prudence, innovation, operational efficiency, transparency and accountability. He maintained that major decisions taken during his tenure were intended to strengthen NASSIT’s sustainability and improve services for contributors and pensioners.
Among the achievements he highlighted was an Information and Communications Technology transformation programme designed to modernize NASSIT’s operations. He described the initiative as one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the institution during its existence, adding that it would simplify services and make them more accessible.
Mohamed Fuaad Daboh also cited the development of a draft bill to extend social security protection to informal-sector workers. He said the proposed scheme could transform the lives of millions of Sierra Leoneans who have traditionally remained outside formal social security arrangements.
He further highlighted the expansion of NASSIT’s physical presence through district offices, including facilities in Bo and Port Loko. The decentralization drive, he explained, was intended to bring services closer to contributors and pensioners who previously travelled long distances to obtain assistance.
Other achievements included stronger engagement with workers, employers, pensioners, trade unions and development partners, as well as increased investment in staff training and professional development.
Internationally, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh said NASSIT had strengthened its participation in the International Social Security Association and the Association of Social Security Administrations of Africa, where Sierra Leone occupies the vice-presidency.
He thanked President Bio, successive Ministers of Employment, Labour and Social Security, NASSIT’s Board, Management, Staff, contributors, pensioners, employers, development partners and the media for supporting his administration. He also expressed appreciation to his family for their patience and sacrifices.
Mohamed Fuaad Daboh congratulated Chernor Mamoud Jalloh and expressed confidence in his ability to consolidate the institution’s gains. He promised to offer his support whenever required in the interests of NASSIT and Sierra Leone.
“Behind every contribution is a worker’s hope and a family’s future. Serve every contributor with respect and every pensioner with compassion,” he urged.
Taking over the institution, newly appointed Director General, NASSIT, Chernor Mamoud Jalloh pledged to lead NASSIT with integrity, professionalism, accountability, efficiency and prudent management. He thanked President Bio for appointing him and Parliament for approving his nomination.
Chernor Mamoud Jalloh commended Mohamed Fuaad Daboh for his service and the orderly transition, assuring the outgoing Director General that NASSIT would continue paying his pension on time.
He acknowledged the importance of the institution, noting that every contribution represents an individual’s hard work, while every pension protects the dignity of a citizen after years of service.
Chernor Mamoud Jalloh said his immediate priority would be to listen, learn and understand NASSIT before making major decisions. He intends to work with the Board, Management, staff and supervising Ministry to assess the institution’s financial, operational and technological position.
He assured employees that he would work alongside them and respect the experience and institutional knowledge accumulated since NASSIT began operating in 2001. However, he reminded them that their ultimate responsibility is to contributors and pensioners, who expect responsible management, efficient services and timely payment of benefits.
“Above all, they expect to be able to trust this institution. That is why it is called a trust,” he stated.
Chernor Mamoud Jalloh expressed his determination to build a financially strong, professionally managed, efficient, transparent and trusted institution. Although he acknowledged that challenges would arise, he said cooperation among the Board, Management and staff would enable NASSIT to overcome them.
Outgoing Board Chairperson, Isata Marah, described NASSIT as a solid institution and predicted that its best days were ahead. She said that after assuming office in March 2026, she prioritized understanding NASSIT’s operations and investments firsthand.
Isata Marah disclosed that the Board reviewed investments in Freetown and the provinces and organized a retreat involving NASSIT subsidiaries. The engagements enabled the Board Investment Committee to develop recommendations and action points for addressing identified concerns.
Although she was leaving to assume another responsibility at the Ministry of Finance, Isata Marah assured the incoming leadership that it is inheriting strong structures and experienced personnel. She encouraged the Board, Management and supervising Ministry to maintain close cooperation.
Incoming Board Chairperson, Janneh Jabati, promised to build on the achievements of the outgoing leadership, with particular attention to investments and the pension scheme’s long-term sustainability.
Janneh Jabati, who previously served at the Ministry of Finance and has extensive financial-sector experience, thanked President Bio for the confidence placed in her. She promised that the new leadership would work diligently to justify its appointment and serve Sierra Leone faithfully.
Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, pledged the Ministry’s continued support to the new Board and Management. He described the ceremony as emotional and praised Mohamed Fuaad Daboh’s commitment and enduring legacy.
Mohamed Rahman Swarray highlighted achievements in biometric registration, service decentralization and the expansion of regional offices. He described the transition as a continuation within the same administration and encouraged the new leadership to consolidate existing progress.
The Minister disclosed that the Government and NASSIT are pursuing reforms intended to strengthen social security administration and improve pension benefits. Proposed legislative amendments would seek to ensure that pensions respond more effectively to changes in workers’ incomes and the national minimum wage.
He urged the new leadership to prioritize financial sustainability, effective oversight and responsible investments, noting that many pensioners depend entirely on NASSIT benefits for survival.
Mohamed Rahman Swarray also emphasized the importance of extending social security coverage to informal-sector workers to reduce vulnerability and strengthen economic resilience.
He concluded by encouraging the incoming leadership to maintain NASSIT’s team spirit and build on the foundation established by its predecessors while improving services and safeguarding contributors’ funds.
