The Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, has urged the newly appointed Chairperson and Trustees of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) to fast-track the implementation of the Sierra Leone Informal Sector Pension Scheme, aimed at extending social protection to workers outside the formal economy.

Delivering remarks at the swearing-in ceremony held at NASSIT House, Minister Swarray described the informal sector as the “Silent Engine” of the economy, representing nearly 80 percent of the population. He noted that it includes traders, fishermen, artisans, and bike riders, stressing that expanding pension coverage to this sector is essential for national development and the protection of workers in cases of old age, invalidity, and death.

Minister Swarray welcomed Madam Isata Marrah, appointed by President Julius Maada Bio as the new Chairperson, describing her as “an elegant and highly seasoned administrator and financial expert.” He noted that her appointment comes at a critical time as NASSIT undertakes a review of its Act, upgrades its ICT infrastructure, and seeks to broaden social security coverage while maximizing the Trust’s investment portfolio.

“You are the guardians of our national pension scheme, with a fiduciary duty to safeguard members and their dependants,” the Minister said, commending the Board, Director General, and management for ensuring that workers can retire with dignity. He highlighted recent achievements under Director General Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, including the commissioning of a new district office in Moyamba, improved service delivery mechanisms, and a 10 percent increase across all pension categories.

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Director General Daboh described Madam Marrah’s appointment as arriving at a “pivotal moment” for the Trust. He briefed the new Chairperson on ongoing reforms, including progress on the NASSIT Act review, ICT transformation, enhanced service accessibility, and developments on the Informal Sector Pension Scheme. Daboh emphasized that the institution’s strength rests on core values of respect, transparency, excellence, and accountability, and called for continued public and stakeholder support to sustain the momentum.

In her remarks, Chairperson Isata Marrah expressed gratitude to the President and pledged to work collaboratively with the Board, management, the Ministry, and other stakeholders. She described social security as the bedrock of society and affirmed her commitment to ensuring NASSIT remains a reliable lifeline for contributors. Madam Marrah also vowed to support the urgent expansion of coverage to the informal sector and to bring renewed energy to the scheme.

Concluding the ceremony, Minister Swarray reiterated the President’s commitment to implementing the Informal Sector Pension Scheme. He urged a strong partnership between the Ministry and NASSIT to deliver on that promise and emphasized the need to expedite coverage for informal workers.

The swearing-in of the new Board marks a significant step in Sierra Leone’s social protection agenda, as the government and NASSIT work to broaden pension coverage and strengthen institutional capacity to serve a wider segment of the population.