On Friday, April 25, 2025, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) held a press seminar at the Freetown International Conference Center in Aberdeen. Under the theme “Moving into the Informal Sector and the Role of the Press,” the event brought together media professionals, government officials, and development partners to highlight the critical role of the press in expanding social protection to informal sector workers.
In his opening statement, NASSIT General Manager Friday Koroma welcomed participants, stressing the importance of the media in promoting public understanding of social security as a fundamental human right. He praised the contributions of stakeholders including Dr. Tonya Musa, Mr. Cyril Jalloh, and the Informal Sector Technical Committee, and called for continued collaboration to broaden social security coverage.
Representing the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Mr. Khalil Kallon commended NASSIT’s leadership for consistent media engagement, noting that such efforts have increased public awareness and helped integrate media workers into the national social security scheme. He urged journalists to intensify public education campaigns, particularly targeting vulnerable groups.
Delivering the keynote address, NASSIT Director General Mohamed Fuad Daboh outlined the institution’s strategic direction and key achievements, including improved digital services, higher employer compliance rates, and expanded public education efforts. Acknowledging challenges especially with compliance among employers of foreign workers he called on the media to hold defaulting companies accountable.
Mr. Daboh also announced the development of a comprehensive blueprint for a flexible and affordable social insurance scheme tailored to the informal sector. Crafted by the Informal Sector Technical Committee with support from government ministries and development partners, the blueprint has been submitted to the Minister of Employment, Labor, and Social Security for further action.
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, reaffirmed the media’s commitment to promoting social protection, emphasizing the media’s role as both messenger and agent of change.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Alpha Sesay, highlighted the importance of formalizing the informal sector which includes traders, motorbike and tricycle riders, and small-scale entrepreneurs and outlined government initiatives aimed at business registration, financial access, and legal identity improvements.
The seminar concluded with a united commitment from NASSIT and its partners to work collaboratively toward expanding social security coverage, with the press playing a pivotal role in ensuring that no Sierra Leonean is left behind.
