By Mohamed Kamara

The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust Mr. Fuad Daboh has said that in order to address the diverse needs of individuals in the informal sector, including those involved in the working compensation class, employment class, insurance etc. the Scheme intends to introduce an informal insurance scheme in 2024.

The DG said this while speaking at the usual weekly Ministry of Information and Civil Education press conference on Tuesday 17 October 2023 at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Conference hall, Tower Hill in Freetown.

He said that the new informal scheme is to cater for those in the informal sector aim at promoting job creation and reducing the risk of pensioners losing their financial security when opting for new business initiatives. Mr. Daboh said the beneficiaries of this new scheme includes skilled workers, carpenters, retail traders, bike riders and other micro business owners providing them with pension benefits upon retirements. Over improved registration of applicants, the DG said that NASSIT is on track to digitalize its data system technology. He said when completed, it will fast-track administrative processes and provide the public easier access to their services, and improve NASSIT public accessibility for both private and public sector.

However, Mr. Deboh warns against fraudsters who obtain monies from the general public with the promise that they will facilitate their issues with NASSIT for quick financial gains. He said to combat this, already, NASSIT is prosecuting five hundred cases at the NASSIT Court for defrauding their clients. It will be recalled that since NASSIT was established, it has invested its profits in constructing a first class hotel at Goderich, construction of a public market at Sewa Grounds, and bought two ferries which were non-functional because of condemnation by the International Maritime Organization.