Seventeen government institutions, including the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), are facing serious scrutiny for failing to remit social security contributions for their employees to the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT).

This alarming revelation was made during a high-level engagement at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown on Thursday, July 15, 2024, where key stakeholders discussed the implications of these defaults.

Among the defaulters are some of the country’s most crucial institutions such as Sierratel, Sierra Leone Ports and Harbors Authority, the National Commission for the Control of AIDS (NACCA), and the National Telecommunications Authority (NatCA). Other entities, including the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Program and the College of Theology, were also highlighted for their failure to meet their financial obligations to NASSIT.

The engagement, spearheaded by NASSIT’s Director General Mohamed Faud Daboh and the Minister of Employment, Labour, and Social Security Mohamed Rahman Swaray, was a clear warning to these institutions. During the meeting, Daboh handed over formal notices to Minister Swaray, outlining the extent of the debts owed by these institutions. The Director General emphasized the importance of social security, describing it as a fundamental human right, and stressed NASSIT’s legal authority to take decisive action against defaulters.

“Social protection is a right that must be upheld,” Daboh remarked, signaling NASSIT’s firm stance on ensuring that all institutions fulfill their obligations. He called on the Minister of Employment to engage with the defaulting institutions and ensure that they prioritize the payment of their overdue contributions.

Minister Swaray echoed these concerns, warning that the government would not tolerate any further delays in addressing these debts. “Failure to comply with the NASSIT Act will have legal consequences,” Swaray stated, underscoring the government’s resolve to enforce financial accountability among subvented institutions. He urged all involved parties to familiarize themselves with the NASSIT Act to avoid future breaches.

The meeting was a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to secure financial responsibility from its institutions. Minister Swaray also assured that discussions regarding the issue are ongoing at the highest levels of government, and his ministry will continue to collaborate with NASSIT to ensure that the outstanding contributions are paid.

“These funds are crucial for supporting retirees and their families, and it is imperative that all institutions meet their obligations to sustain the scheme,” Swaray concluded, reinforcing the government’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the national social security system.