in line with the Trust's efforts to deepen the knowledge of members, potential members and the general public on the activities of NASSIT, and to bring the scheme closer to the people, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) on Thursday 20th June 2019, engaged staff and students of the Eastern Polytechnic, Kenema, in a public lecture on the theme, Social Protection for National Development.
This first in a series of public education and knowledge-sharing events which attracted hundreds of students and lecturers were conducted at the Tejan Kabba Hall at the Kenema campus of the Eastern Polytechnic.
In his keynote statement, the Director-General of NASSIT, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh expressed his gratitude to the administration of the college for granting NASSIT the opportunity to conduct the public lecture. He said the august event was the commencement of a series of public lectures to be escalated to campuses of tertiary institutions across the country. Mr. Daboh intimated his audience that the event was not only a deliberate effort by NASSIT to deepen the knowledge of current and would-be members of the scheme but also an attempt to plant the culture of social security into the minds of both students and the academic class that will germinate into a way of life and or a career path. The Director-General updated his audience on the strides made by his administration to change the face of the institution and make NASSIT a better place.
“My administration has launched telephone hotlines for customers. These hotlines, which are available via both Orange and Africell networks, are aimed at providing an opportunity for members of the public to easily contact the Trust with their concerns, queries, and suggestions. The numbers are as follows: 811 for the West Region Office in Freetown, 812 for the West sub Office, 813 for the West-East sub-office, 814 for the Kono office, 815 for the South Region office in Bo, 816 for the North Region office in Makeni, and 817 for the East Region Office in Kenema, he explained. He further informed the jam-packed hall about the commissioning of the Social Security court to enhance compliance, the Appellate Tribunal to enable members to seek redress in times of dissatisfaction in benefit payment, the opening of a new regional office for the Northwest region, the digitalization of NASSIT and the move to procure a new software for NASSIT. He concluded by informing the audience of his management’s intention to invest in students hostels, stating that the Eastern Polytechnic would be one of the five campuses that would benefit from a 216- room student hostel that will house 432 students.
The entire hall turned into a dancing field with staff and students shouting, “Paopa book learning go bette na salone”
In his opening address, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. John Juana who is also the Registrar of the host institution acknowledged the viability of such a venture to both staff and students. He said Eastern Polytechnic was fortunate to have been the first institution to benefit from such a venture. He called on staff and students to take the best advantage of the opportunity to not only deepen their knowledge but also whet their appetite for possible research and or a professional avenue. He used the forum to highlight the profile of the college as a viable investment avenue. He enumerated the potentials of the college in terms of capacity, course content, student population and the availability of huge land reserve. He concluded by calling on Government and other stakeholders to expedite the transformation process of the Polytechnic to a university.
Statements were made by Mr. Ibrahim Amadu, Vice-principal of the college, Osman Koroma, Director of Public Affairs, NASSIT, and lectures were delivered by Mohamed B.M Kamara, NASSIT Regional Manager, East on Operations, Edwin Kamara Deputy Director of Benefit on Benefit Processing and Mohamed Kenneth on Investment. Vote of thanks was delivered by a student of Eastern Polytechnic.