The Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, has urged the newly appointed chairperson of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) Board and the Trust’s management to move quickly on implementing the Sierra Leone Informal Sector Pension Scheme so that social security coverage can be extended to workers in the informal economy.
Minister Swarray delivered the appeal at the swearing-in ceremony for the new NASSIT Board Chairperson, Madam Isata Marrah, and two newly appointed trustees on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at NASSIT House in Freetown. He described the development of the informal sector pension product as an urgent national priority, stressing that it would bring dignity and protection to a large segment of the population currently outside formal social protection arrangements.
Welcoming Madam Marrah, the Minister thanked His Excellency Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio for what he termed a wise and timely appointment. He hailed Marrah as “an elegant and highly seasoned administrator and financial expert,” and said her arrival is particularly opportune as NASSIT pursues a review of its governing Act, steps up efforts to expand social security to the informal sector, and intensifies work to strengthen service delivery and maximise the Trust’s investment portfolio.
Swarray reiterated the central role of the Board of Trustees in ensuring the sustainability of the national pension scheme and, by extension, contributing to the country’s broader development. Addressing the new chair and the trustees, he said: “You are the guardians of our national pension scheme, with a fiduciary duty to safeguard members and their dependants during events like old age, invalidity, and death.” He commended the trustees, the Director General and the management team for their consistent performance in ensuring that workers can retire with dignity after years of service.
The Minister highlighted recent achievements under the administration led by Director General Mohamed Fuaad Daboh. These include the commissioning of a new district office in Moyamba, the implementation of an effective service delivery mechanism, and a recent 10 per cent increase in pensions across all categories—measures Swarray described as steps in the right direction toward improving the welfare of retirees.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Swarray pressed the new Chairperson and NASSIT management to expedite the extension of coverage to the informal sector, which he characterised as the “Silent Engine” of the economy. He noted that the informal sector comprises nearly eighty per cent of the population and includes traders, fishermen, artisans and motorcycle riders—groups that would significantly benefit from an accessible pension product. He also reminded those present that the President has repeatedly committed to delivering the Informal Pension Scheme, adding that fulfilling that promise is very important to the Head of State.
Swarray called for a strong, collaborative working relationship between the Ministry and the NASSIT Board, emphasising joint responsibility to improve the dignity and welfare of Sierra Leonean workers. “We should work together to improve the dignity and welfare of Sierra Leonean workers,” he said, stressing that partnership and coordination will be essential to rolling out the new scheme successfully.
Director General Mohamed Fuaad Daboh congratulated Madam Marrah on her appointment and described her leadership as arriving at a “pivotal moment” for the Trust. Daboh updated the new Chairperson on a series of transformative initiatives underway at NASSIT, including the ongoing review of the NASSIT Act, the modernisation of ICT infrastructure, improvements in accessibility and service delivery, and progress on the Informal Sector Pension Scheme. He emphasised that the institution’s strength is rooted in its core values of respect, transparency, excellence and accountability.
Daboh appealed for sustained public and stakeholder support to maintain the momentum of reforms and reaffirmed NASSIT’s commitment to the Government’s agenda on workers’ welfare and dignified retirement. He expressed confidence that Madam Marrah’s experience would further strengthen the Trust’s strategic direction and support the successful implementation of the new scheme targeted at informal sector contributors.
In her acceptance remarks, Chairperson Isata Marrah expressed gratitude to the President for the confidence placed in her and thanked the Minister, the trustees and management for their warm reception. She praised the capacity of the current Board and Management for the institution’s strength and stability, and described social security as the bedrock of society. Marrah pledged to adopt a collaborative approach in her leadership, committing to work with stakeholders to enhance NASSIT’s mandate and ensure the Trust remains a reliable lifeline for all contributors.
She gave her full support to the Ministry’s call to expedite expansion into the informal sector and vowed to use her experience to energise the team and bring renewed focus to the Scheme. The swearing-in ceremony and accompanying calls for accelerated implementation signal a renewed push by government and NASSIT leadership to finalise reforms and extend social protection to the many Sierra Leoneans who currently operate outside the formal labour market.
