The Executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, met with the Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) at his Walpole Street office in Freetown.
In his statement, the Chairman of the Guild of Newspaper Editors, Theo Harding, congratulated Mr. Mohamed Fuaad Daboh on his appointment as Director General “of this very important institution”. He expressed SLAJ’s appreciation of Mr. Daboh for granting them audience, adding that NASSIT had been very supportive of the press in this country.
“NASSIT is one of the institutions that are very supportive of not only journalists, but of SLAJ as an organization,” he stated.
Mr. Harding spoke about the challenges media institutions are facing with regard to their obligations to NASSIT and called for a strong collaboration between NASSIT and SLAJ.
In his statement, the Secretary General, Asmieu Bah, convey the greeting of the President of SLAJ, who he said could not attend the meeting owing to circumstances beyond his control. Mr. Bah commended the Director General for the enormous strides NASSIT had taken since his appointment, describing them as very laudable. He reiterated the concerns of media proprietors regarding registration and payment of social security contributions, and implored on the Director General for his intervention.
“We want to have a new beginning with NASSIT, a clean slate”, he stated.
Responding, the Director General welcomed SLAJ as an institution and emphasized on the already existing cordial relationship between his institution and the media in Sierra Leone. He spoke about the press seminar held at the Golden Tulip Kimbima hotel last year, describing it as very successful. “We want to make it an annual event”, he intimated.
Mr. Daboh underscored the important role the media plays in the development of any institution or country, and promised to cement the relationship between SLAJ and NASSIT.
Regarding the request by SLAJ for a new beginning, the Director General noted the concern but however stated that further meetings would be required to discuss the best way possible, saying, “the primary mandate of NASSIT is to register institutions and members, and collect contribution; and as a Scheme, we have to protect our members”. He called on SLAJ to talk to their membership to register both as institutions and members, saying NASSIT was set by an Act of Parliament – Act No.5 of 2002.
NASSIT, We Care
