By Amin Kef Sesay
The National Social Security & Insurance Trust (NASSIT) has awarded the leading Mobile Company in Sierra Leone, Africell, for full compliance with the provisions of NASSIT Act No.5 of July 2001, for the 2019 Financial Year.
The program was organized at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown and it was meant to recognize those employers that are in compliance with the National Social Security & Insurance scheme.
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust was set up to administer Sierra Leone’s National Pension’s Scheme. The Trust was established to provide retirement and other benefits to meet the contingency needs for workers and their dependents.
Kobi Walker, Managing Director of National Petroleum Company was one of the guests at the occasion and talked about the robust and aggressive marketing strategy Africell has employed over the time giving it the enviable position to be recognized as a leading mobile company that is growing at the top and currently the leading telecommunication industry in Sierra Leone in terms of subscriber base.
He lauded the management of Africell for complying with NASSIT, adding that Africell has not only shown good management skills but also demonstrated that they were a company of high standing in relation to the Trust.
He made it abundantly clear that other mobile companies and business institutions operating in Sierra Leone were not in full compliance with the provisions of the NASSIT Act No.5 of 2001. As a result, He cautioned institutions that were not in compliance with the law else they will have themselves to blame.
Andrew S. Fatoma is Africell’s Human Resource Director and he responded to the award saying that the award was a pleasant surprise to the management of Africell. He also disclosed that Africell has always strived to be in compliance with NASSIT by paying their contributions in full and on time.
“The award is a pleasant surprise,” he said, adding that as they have always endeavored not to be in conflict of any state institution or regulator. He noted that Africell has proven to be the leading Telecoms Company with outstanding performance in all sectors of the country. “They are not only creating jobs for Sierra Leoneans but they are ensuring that those whom they employed are well-taken care of in terms of salaries and other incentives”, he stated. The award has been described as a testament to Africell’s priorities placed on workers’ rights and needs. He echoed that this has seen the Management of Africell Mobile Company paying NASSIT contribution of its entire staff and that is why they were in full compliance.
He thanked the management of NASSIT for recognizing their good efforts in remaining full compliance with the NASSIT scheme towards all staff of Africell and he assured the management of NASSIT that they will continue to remain fully committed to paying NASSIT contributions for all their staff.
