By Alimatu Jalloh
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) on Sunday, January 21st, 2024, held its 21st annual thanksgiving service with the theme: “Regular update of Members Record: A Means to easy access to your benefit”, at the New Life Ministries International Miracle City, Ross Road in Freetown.
The service was well attended by cross-section of its staff including board of Trustees, Management and Staff of the scheme, and other stakeholders.
Declaring the purpose of the Thanksgiving Service, the Deputy Director General of NASSIT, Admin Mohammed Gondoe said that they have gathered in sanctuary to give thanks to the God.
He referred the congregation to few verses in the bible were the Almighty God commanded mankind to give thanks.
“We are here to answer to the instruction of our maker, and for being alive and also thank God for the talents given to us to better and improve the lives of the people,” he said.
In his statement and presentation, the Director General of NASSIT, Mohamed Fuad Daboh thanked the New Life Ministries for hosting their thanksgiving service.
Mr. Daboh said NASSIT is celebrating over 20 years, adding that the scheme has endured the test of time despite the difficulties over the years.
“One of the challenges we have as an institution is compliance. As we all know, nobody want to pay tax and this is something we continue to grapple with,” he said.
The Director General paid special tribute to the Chief Justice on leave, Desmond Babatunde Edwards who was in the congregation, Madam Neneh Daboh and a host of others who have supported the scheme in one way or the other.
“Today we are giving thanks to God Almighty for taking NASSIT to another height. Throughout this period we have never negate in our obligation as we continue to pay pensions and benefits,” he added.
The Director General requested the church to continue praying for peace, adding that the thanksgiving is happening because there is peace in the country.
He disclosed that there are still people who are trying to strangulate the scheme, pointing out that a good number of people continue to defraud the system, but these are issues they continue to work on.
“We are currently investigating some people,” DG Daboh said.
Giving the sermon, the General Overseer of New Life Ministries International, Rev. Archibald Cole offered a special prayer for NASSIT.
Rev. Cole prayed that as NASSIT moved into the next 20 years the scheme will achieve more and more.
He draws his sermon from Psalm 134 verse 1-3 which talks about the blessings of God.
Rev. Cole thanked NASSIT for the great work they are doing.
NASSIT is a statutory public trust charged with the responsibility of administering Sierra Leone’s national pension scheme. The trust is guaranteed by the state and is autonomous. The scheme is celebrating 21 years of existence. Prior to Sunday thanksgiving, NASSIT has also held same at the Jamul Salaam at Mountain Cut in Freetown for the Muslims.