By:Usman Fambuleh
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (National Social Security and Insurance Trust) on Thursday, April 9, 2026, hosted its annual press cocktail for media institutions in Sierra Leone.
The event, held at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, brought together key stakeholders from government, the media, and the social security sector.
Delivering his statement, the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, urged journalists across the country to prioritize their financial future by enrolling in the NASSIT scheme, expressing concern over the low level of participation among media practitioners.
“It is disappointing to note that a significant number of journalists are not contributing to NASSIT. This is about your future. Subscribing to social security guarantees financial stability after retirement,” he said.
He further called on media owners to comply with statutory obligations by ensuring that their employees are duly registered and that contributions are consistently remitted to NASSIT.
In his remarks, the Director General of NASSIT, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, described the media as a vital partner in advancing the institution’s mandate, noting that journalists play a key role in national development through the dissemination of accurate and reliable information.
He encouraged media practitioners to go beyond routine reporting by incorporating data and statistics into their stories to enhance public understanding.
Mr. Daboh also disclosed that the Informal Sector Scheme Bill has received Cabinet approval and will soon be laid before Parliament by the Minister. He explained that the proposed legislation aims to strengthen social security coverage for workers in the informal sector and expand NASSIT’s reach.
He added that once enacted, the law will provide a structured framework for extending social security benefits to a wider segment of the population.
He further commended the Government of Sierra Leone for the recent announcement of the minimum wage, noting that it is expected to improve both contributions and benefits under the scheme.
Also speaking, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (Sierra Leone Association of Journalists), Alhaji Manika Kamara, reaffirmed the importance of journalists enrolling in the scheme, highlighting the media’s critical role in promoting accountability, transparency, and good governance.
He described the media as a powerful tool for democracy, adding that journalists contribute significantly to national development through responsible reporting and scrutiny of public institutions.
He also appealed to NASSIT management to invest in the media sector through SLAJ, particularly by supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening capacity and sustainability.
The event ended with a networking session among participants. NASSIT also announced that its Sewa Grounds facility is now fully operational, marking another milestone in its institutional development efforts.
