By Amara Thoronka
The Public Relations Officer of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mohamed Bangali has dispelled and clarified allegations on the delay of pension payment to beneficiaries.
In a joint workshop organized by NASSIT, Independent Media Commission and Sierra Leone Association of Journalists at CCSL Conference Hall, Brookfields in Freetown, Bangali said the Trust is always ready and willing to pay true beneficiaries, noting that the delay in payment is most often not caused by NASSIT but certain factors caused by contributors themselves. “The main causes of delay in payment are inconsistent dates of birth, incomplete documentation and non-updating of records,” he cited.
On inconsistent date of birth, the NASSIT image maker said some employees have different dates of birth. He stressed that, “There are contributors whose dates of birth in their place of work and at NASSIT differ and such a difference can lead to delay in processing benefit.” He added that due to such discrepancy an employee would be due for retirement in his/her office but has not reached retirement age at NASSIT. Bangali advised contributors to be consistent with their dates of birth in order to have an easy and quicker access to their entitlements.
Explaining incomplete documentation as a hindrance, NASSIT PRO said some contributors do not provide the Trust with the complete documents to quicken verification and processing of benefit. “This brings a whole lot of problems when the contributor dies; some people coming to claim the benefit of the deceased contributor cannot be verified by NASSIT because they are not captured as beneficiaries and most often they cannot show documents which speak to their relationship with the deceased,” he explained.
He admonished contributors and their dependents that at NASSIT pictures, audios and videos are not evidence of marriage and other relationships; adding that contributors should regularize or legitimize their relationships with their dependents to discourage delay in payment.
He continued that contributors should regularly and timely update their record, as non-updating of records is one of the fundamental factors causing delay in payment of benefit. “Some contributors do not update their records, as the dependents they put ten to fifteen years ago are the same names NASSIT has. Even when they are now married and have had more kids they negligently fail to add the names of their spouses and children,” he revealed.
Bangali pointed out that NASSIT is always careful not to pay the wrong person. “Our job is to pay the right person at the right time and that is why we are very meticulous in processing and administering payment. If only all documents are intact and consistent with the right person claiming benefit, the payment process will be very speedy,” he emphasized.
On the rumour that NASSIT is cash-trapped, he said the Trust is financially stable to adequately settle all beneficiaries ranging from retirement, invalidity to survivors.
He ended his PowerPoint presentation by encouraging employers to register their employees with the Trust and pay their contributions accordingly. “Social security is a welfare and human right issue; it is what we lean on when we become tired with or retire from work or what our dependents will survive on upon our demise, therefore all of us should take it very seriously,” he admonished.
This comes at a time when the Director General of NASSIT, Mohamed Fuad Daboh commissioned motor bikes for the use of NASSIT inspectors and a vehicle for NASSIT Medical Board as a way of enhancing efficiency. It also comes after the handing over of the site in Portloko for the construction of an ultra-modern NASSIT regional office for the north-west region.
NASSIT is a public agency established by an act of parliament in 2001 to administer and manage the country’s pension scheme.
Excellent piece