The NASSIT Affair. What is the real story
The National Insurance and Social Security Trust, (NASSIT) has in the past years, at least since the advent of the APC government been in the news for the wrong reasons. The scheme was the initiative of the then Minister of Labour and Social Security in the SLPP government of the late former President Alhajie Dr. Ahmad Tejan-Kabbah. The President had watched closely the activity of the young Secretary-General of the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union SLTU. The latter organization had emerged from a dull argumentative and sometimes disunited body to one that was seen to be very aware of its responsibility not just to its members but to the educational system and therefore the country at large. (Photo: Dr Sama Banya, author)
It was under Alpha Timbo’s stewardship that the Union erected a very handsome hotel in the East end of the city aptly named “HOTEL 5 10.” after the WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY. Today it is a viable and successful investment. There is hardly any citizen of Freetown or the thousands of internally displaced persons from various parts of the country who does not recall with horror the terrible atrocities inflicted by a band of ruthless savages calling themselves revolutionaries whether of the RUF or Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, except for the band of selfish and self centred individuals who served the murderous gang who not only supported the latter regime but actually served under it.
Yes all peace loving Sierra Leoneans will remember with nausea January 6 1999 and the horrible days that followed until ECOMOG and the British forces drove the bandits out of the capital and secured Lungi International Airport. Alpha Timbo was among the group of Sierra Leoneans who spent long days and nights seeking the safety and welfare of the victims of those butchers.
As General Colin Powell said when he addressed a group of school kids in Harlem, “SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING.” And so it was with Alpha Timbo and some of his colleagues that the head of state his Excellency Ahmad Tejan-Kabbah was watching. To him Alpha Timbo had demonstrated the kind of leadership that would be of immense value in the country’s decision making process especially in the immediate post war period. Thus it was that the Teacher trade unionist was persuaded and I use the word deliberately, was persuaded to join the government. And because the man was action oriented he soon took a leaf from Ghana on the Social Security Trust and Network and with the approval of first President Tejan-Kabbah and later of the cabinet NASSIT was set up.
Timbo was able to acquire the services of the Ghanaian expert Eric Adjei to be seconded as Managing Director and later as Consultant. With Alpha Timbo they set up the scheme using the proceeds from the sale of donated rice as seed money. Contrary to what the opposition APC and PMDC put out the Libyan rice or other donated items WERE NEVER SOLD OTHERWISE and contrary to publications in the Standard Times newspaper the country and especially the press were fully aware of what was being done.
Once well established Timbo wanted a Sierra Leonean to succeed Adjei. He recommended Edmond Koroma to the President as most suited to fill the vacancy. I disagreed and told his Excellency that we must advertise the position in order to give others the opportunity to apply. Even though I favoured a particular candidate Edmond’s credentials outweighed those of my own preferred candidate. And both the President and his Vice President Solomon Berewa confirmed Edmond’s appointment without further ado.
Up to the time we left office both Edmond and his two deputies Sahr Ngainga and Sankoh (one of those just sacked) were doing an excellent job. We could see some products of their handiwork under an equally efficient Board of Directors all of whom were appointed on merit.
It is a different story today; there is that terrible story of the purchase of two rotten ferries for the selection of which non expert board members traveled to Europe at our expense confirm the order. I won’t sadden readers with the ugly consequences of that terrible decision, tainted by stories of corruption. Another scandal broke out with allegations that the board chairman Jacob Kanu who runs his own financial institution was in the habit of channeling NASSIT funds to his outfit for a while before passing it into the Trust’s account. Nothing happened to the chairman but the Secretary and Legal Adviser was forced to resign. Not long after that it was rumoured that there was friction in the board because the Technocrats had refused to endorse the reappointment of the board chairman who is still in post.
Well as they say the rest is now history. The Managing Director Sam Bangura and two of his deputies have been shown the red flag but another deputy has remained and is in charge of the joint until a permanent MD is appointed or so the story goes. But in Sierra Leone there is nothing more permanent as Temporary arrangements. (Don’t quote me please). What the board needs to do now to reassure the public who are the owners of the outfit is for the chairman and management to publish an audited account of NASSIT. There may have been a recent one but I haven’t seen it.
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