The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) in Sierra Leone, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, has called for global support to establish and operationalize the proposed Informal Sector Pension Scheme in Sierra Leone. He made that appeal on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, during a high-level Technical Committee meeting with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Office in Abuja, Nigeria.
Expressing gratitude to Dr. Vanessa Phala-Moyo, the Director of the ILO Office for Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh commended the ILO for its continued collaboration with Sierra Leone, particularly in strengthening the nation’s social protection systems. He acknowledged the longstanding partnership between the ILO and Sierra Leone, which has played a crucial role in various development areas, including the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), capacity building, ratification of ILO Conventions, job creation and support for establishing the National Health Insurance Scheme (SLeSHI).
Highlighting the ILO’s extensive support for NASSIT, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh noted the organization’s contributions in social security administration, actuarial and policy advisory services and the extension of social security coverage to the informal sector.
“The tremendous speed at which the proposed scheme is progressing cannot be separated from the ILO’s invaluable support,” he stated.
The Director General described the meeting as an opportunity to provide updates on the proposed scheme and to seek further global assistance for its successful implementation. He elaborated on NASSIT’s strides in extending social security coverage to the informal sector, citing initiatives undertaken since his appointment in 2018. These include the establishment of a Steering and Technical Committee, the creation of an Informal Sector Secretariat and the completion of a diagnostic study to identify the social security needs of informal sector workers.
Furthermore, an inception actuarial valuation has been conducted to assess various policy options, benefits packages and contribution rates. A draft policy design has already been developed and submitted to the ILO for review and validation.
Recalling the formation of the current NASSIT scheme, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh emphasized the need for a Resident Technical Consultant to oversee the design and implementation of the informal sector scheme.
“In light of the ILO’s past role in providing a Resident Technical Consultant for the establishment of the NASSIT Scheme, we are formally requesting support for the recruitment of a consultant with extensive expertise in informal sector pension schemes and social protection systems,” he appealed.
Speaking on behalf of Dr. Phala-Moyo, Mr. Diop congratulated NASSIT on its significant achievements and commitment to social security expansion. He underscored the urgent need to extend social security coverage to informal sector workers, emphasizing the importance of tailored social protection mechanisms, legal framework adjustments and a strategy that integrates informal workers while promoting economic formalization.
Senior Social Protection Expert, Bachali Duramane, also commended NASSIT’s efforts, reaffirming the ILO’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone in achieving universal social security access. He emphasized that expanding social security coverage to informal workers is essential for ending poverty and fostering economic stability.
Responding to NASSIT’s request for a Resident Technical Consultant, Bachali Duramane agreed on the importance of having an expert with hands-on experience in informal sector social security administration. He assured NASSIT of the ILO’s full support in capacity building, identifying relevant training courses and facilitating staff exchange programs with established pension schemes worldwide.
The discussions concluded with deliberations on critical issues such as scheme membership, legal frameworks, social marketing, portability of benefits and opportunities for international collaboration among social security institutions.
In another development, the NASSIT delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Julius F. Sandi, at his office in Abuja. During the visit, Dr. Julius Sandi lauded NASSIT’s efforts in administering Sierra Leone’s pension scheme and highlighted the scheme’s crucial role in ensuring financial security for retirees.
Dr. Julius Sandi pledged to use his office to strengthen collaboration between Sierra Leone and the ILO to facilitate the establishment of the informal sector pension scheme. He also called for national unity and emphasized the need for a culture of togetherness and tolerance, which he described as fundamental to Sierra Leone’s development.
In response, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh expressed appreciation for the High Commissioner’s warm reception and reiterated NASSIT’s commitment to enhancing the pension system.
“NASSIT remains one of Sierra Leone’s greatest partners in times of need, and we are dedicated to ensuring that all citizens, including those in the informal sector, have access to social security benefits,” he assured.
The NASSIT delegation departed with renewed optimism, reaffirming their commitment to working with global partners to bring social security coverage to Sierra Leone’s informal workforce.
