On Tuesday, 11th June 2025, the Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, appealed to the Chinese Government for collaboration and support in establishing and operationalizing the Informal Sector Pension Scheme in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at a meeting with senior officials of the Chinese Embassy in Freetown, including Economic and Commercial Counsellor Peng Wang, Mr. Daboh expressed gratitude for China’s continued support in key development sectors such as education, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, health, and diplomacy. He acknowledged China’s long-standing partnership with Sierra Leone and emphasized the importance of expanding social protection coverage.
Mr. Daboh outlined NASSIT’s mandate as a statutory Public Trust tasked with providing retirement and other benefits to workers. While the scheme has achieved significant coverage in the formal sector-reaching over 87% of its members-extending social security to the informal sector remains a challenge.
He elaborated on steps taken since 2018 to develop a comprehensive pension scheme for informal sector workers. These efforts have included partnerships with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for technical support, the formation of Steering and Technical Committees, the establishment of an Informal Sector Secretariat, and the completion of a diagnostic study and actuarial valuation. These initiatives helped shape a draft policy design that has been validated by both the ILO and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security.
To advance the scheme, Mr. Daboh highlighted the need for stakeholder engagement, validation of the National Informal Sector Policy Framework, Cabinet approval, legislative enactment, and nationwide awareness campaigns. He specifically requested Chinese support in areas such as training, ICT infrastructure, and capacity building to ensure successful implementation.
In his response, Mr. Wang congratulated NASSIT on its progress and reiterated China’s longstanding relationship with Sierra Leone, which dates back to the 1970s. He highlighted China’s past assistance in infrastructure, agriculture, and health, and assured the NASSIT Director General of continued support and cooperation. He pledged China’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and supporting the Informal Sector Pension Scheme.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of the draft policy and a status update on progress made toward operationalizing the scheme.
