In a landmark development for legal practitioners in Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) on Friday successfully facilitated the enrollment of private legal practitioners into the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) scheme. The registration exercise took place at the NASSIT West Region Office on Wallace Johnson Street, Freetown.
Delivering remarks at the event, SLBA Public Relations Officer, Alfred Kamanda Esq., noted that the enrollment was the outcome of sustained engagement between the leadership of the Bar Association and NASSIT. He highlighted that the initiative was driven by the commitment of SLBA President, Madam Adama Gento Kamara, to fulfill a key manifesto promise and to champion the welfare of private legal practitioners.
“This exercise is the realization of a vision to ensure social protection for lawyers in private practice — a significant step toward safeguarding them against life’s uncertainties,” Kamanda said.
Also speaking at the event, SLBA Secretary General Alfred Paul Juwah Esq. expressed profound satisfaction with what he described as a “groundbreaking welfare achievement.” He urged legal practitioners to seize the opportunity, emphasizing that the initiative reflects the administration’s dedication to improving the legal profession, advancing social justice, and enhancing the well-being of SLBA members.
Representing the Director General of NASSIT, Mohamed Bangalie, Head of Public Affairs and Event Management, commended the SLBA leadership and membership for achieving this milestone. He reiterated the importance of social security, particularly for professionals in private practice who often lack structured welfare systems.
“Social security is not just a human right—it is essential for financial security during retirement, in times of disability, or following the death of a contributor. It is a critical support system that the legal profession can now benefit from more directly,” Bangalie stated.
He assured the SLBA of NASSIT’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and efficient registration process and ongoing service delivery, describing the initiative as aligned with the vision of the Director General to extend social protection to all sectors of society.
