By Mohamed Konneh
President Julius Maada Bio on Friday 16th January 2026 commissioned the newly constructed National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) District office in Moyamba.
The commissioning took place during a well-attended ceremony within the township of Moyamba.
Commissioning the newly constructed office, President Julius Maada Bio start by thanking the management of NASSIT and the people of Moyamba for putting up the office
President Bio expresses happiness for been in Moyamba and having to commission a district office.
‘’We are here to affirm a simple message and that is, every hardworking Sierra Leonean deserved a decent retirement benefit. This is the more reason why the social protection was created. Social protection is about people and after years of work the state will not abandon you,’’ he said.
He said when you are old and vulnerable the government is here to help you.
President Bio continue to thank NASSIT for transforming pension activities and expressing happiness about the Minister of employment pronouncement about the training for pensioners.
‘’The SLPP is a social democratic party and our aim is to better the lives of the people. The promises we made to the country have not change but the world is tough. We are committed to every promise we have made,’’ he said.
He called on the people to pay their taxes because it is only through taxes that government get money to do development.
‘’We believe in the dignity of labour. People have died because they were going for their NASSIT verification outside of Moyamba. No one should struggle to access what belongs to them especially their NASSIT.
President noted that his government see social protection as a way to reduce suffering from the people.
The President called on the people of Moyamba to make full use of the office and to also protect the future of the people noting that the management has been entrusted with the future of the people.
The Minister responsible for the South, John Abu who also chaired the occasion in his opening statement said the opening of the Moyamba NASSIT District office is a ground breaking ceremony.
He said the occasion is a testament of the Director General’s dream for bringing NASSIT closer to the people of Moyamba District.
‘’This means NASSIT contributors in Moyamba will no longer travel to either Bo or Freetown for their NASSIT activities, he said.
Welcoming the gathering the Paramount Chief PC Foday Momoh Gulama, Kaiyamba Chiefdom, Moyamba District said the construction of this office has remove the suffering of pensioners in Moyamba District.
The Paramount Chief said the president have brought lot of goodies to the Moyamba district.
‘We now have electricity and the water project is also coming up. The road project is also ongoing but the road between Shenge and Rotifunk is crucial. We appeal to your good office to fast track these project.
The District Officer Moyamba while making his statement said the edifice is not just a building but a testament of building trust.
He said the building will enhance efficiency and the development of the district.
‘’As this building is been commission today it will strengthens the work of NASSIT in the district.
In her testimony, Rev Jain Ngakoh Lahai, NASSIT pensioner said she was a teacher for forty two years.
‘’I am a proud teacher and I am marriage to NASSIT and NASSIT is marriage to me.
She said the NASSIT customer service is top notch.
‘’I am a living testimony and I encourage everyone to be part of NASSIT.
The NASSIT Director General, Mohamed Fuad Daboh speaking earlier said since NASSIT was launched in 2022 President Bio continue to ask questions as to why we have not expanded to district offices.
The President continue to challenge us to decentralise and the reason we are here today.
‘’We have this office in Moyamba today not just because of the district but a research was done and Moyamba came on top.
Also the land upon which the office is standing is government property and we are now working with the Minister of Lands to make this land a freehold. This land is now a property of NASSIT. Thank you to the sons and daughters of Moyamba for pushing me to complete this work in record time. I have witness accident regarding pensioners traveling to go and verified their status,’’ he said.
The Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray in his statement said it was the SLPP that brought NASSIT to Moyamba in 2001.
He said there are series of testimonies of NASSIT contributions to pensioners in the country.
The Minister noted that they as Minister do not have no other agenda but the agenda of the President and that is to deliver.
‘’This is the year of commissioning NASSIT offices in the country. NASSIT is just around nine percent of the population so the president has challenge us to extend social security to the informal sector.
He said mid this year the Ministry together with NASSIT will extend coverage to the informal sector.
‘’We will start preparing people for retirement and this is important.
He called on the Paramount Chief to monitors companies working in Moyamba to register with NASSIT.
