By Mackie M. Jalloh
In a bold stride toward bridging the social security gap in Sierra Leone’s private sector, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) and the Sierra Leone Bar Association have united to champion pension inclusion for the country’s legal professionals. The two institutions hosted a pivotal one-day seminar on July 29, 2025, at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown, signaling a turning point in the conversation around pension access and retirement welfare for private sector lawyers.
For years, many legal practitioners operating outside of government employment have found themselves without access to structured retirement benefits—despite dedicating decades to the country’s legal and judicial system. Unlike their public sector counterparts, private lawyers have typically fallen outside the coverage of the national pension system. This long-standing disparity has left many respected legal professionals in vulnerable positions upon retirement, lacking a safety net to sustain them after active service.
The recent seminar was convened to address these injustices and begin forging a practical pathway toward pension inclusion. Drawing together senior members of the legal profession, NASSIT officials, policymakers, and social protection advocates, the event served as a strategic platform for dialogue, awareness, and policy advocacy.
Chairing the session, Mr. Edwin Mohamed Kamara underscored the timeliness of the initiative and praised both the Bar Association and NASSIT for taking a proactive stance. “For too long, professionals in the private sector—especially lawyers—have retired without any form of pension or post-service support,” Kamara said. “Today, we are taking a step toward correcting that legacy. This partnership between NASSIT and the Bar Association represents a paradigm shift in how we protect those who have contributed so much to our legal system.”
Mr. Kamara emphasized the broader implications of the initiative, suggesting that it could serve as a model for other professional groups within the private sector. He called for a nationwide shift toward inclusive social security that recognizes the contributions of all working citizens, regardless of sector.
Speaking with a sense of urgency and resolve, Bar Association President Madam Tuma Adama Gento Kamara highlighted the stark reality facing many retired lawyers in Sierra Leone. “We cannot continue to allow our colleagues to end their careers in poverty and neglect,” she said. “A society that fails to honor its professionals in retirement sends the wrong message to future generations. We must ensure that the noble legal profession is not only respected in courtrooms but also protected in retirement.”
Madam Kamara affirmed the Bar Association’s full backing of the collaboration and called on all lawyers—especially those operating privately—to embrace the initiative. She urged legal practitioners to see pension inclusion not merely as a policy adjustment, but as a necessary evolution in the professional landscape.
Representing NASSIT, Director General Fuaad Daboh used the opportunity to reaffirm the institution’s commitment to expanding pension coverage across all sectors. “Our vision at NASSIT is to ensure every Sierra Leonean worker, whether in the public or private sector, can retire with dignity,” Daboh noted. “Lawyers have helped shape the legal and democratic foundation of our nation, and we must now help secure their future.”
Daboh acknowledged the complexities of integrating private sector professionals into the NASSIT system but expressed optimism that with continued engagement, collaboration, and education, the path to full inclusion would be clearly laid out.
The seminar concluded with a strong commitment from both institutions to establish a working group that will finalize the operational framework for pension coverage of legal professionals. Participants described the session as “hopeful” and “overdue,” and many expressed gratitude for finally being included in national discussions on social protection.
As Sierra Leone continues to push for reforms that reflect the needs of all its citizens, the NASSIT-Bar Association partnership marks a meaningful move toward inclusive, just, and equitable retirement systems. For private lawyers across the country, it’s more than policy—it’s a long-awaited promise of dignity and security in old age.
