By Allieu S. Tunkara
A group of over 311 soldiers have threatened to strike owing to delays over payment of their pension by NASSIT (National Social Security and Insurance Trust). NASSIT is an agency set up to administer Sierra Leone’s pension scheme to retirees and those who suffer invalidity in the line of duty.
The ex-soldiers were those discharged under RSLAF (Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces) disability policy owing to injuries they sustained Sierra Leone’s civil war. The former combatants are paid monthly allowances under the Wounded In Action (WIA) scheme.
An employee of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Fanta has been blamed by the ex-servicemen for the ill-treatment. Lance Corporal Abu Bakarr Turay told this press that the NASSIT employee had treated them with contempt.
“Fanta puts up no good behaviour towards us,” Corporal Turay complained.
Fanta is quoted to have said: “she pays the ex-soldiers only when she feels like doing so.” The employee’s statement does not go down well with the retired men. “I am 75% disabled while my colleagues are over 100%. Situation is not easy for us,” Turay expressed hardship.
Corporal Turay was discharged from the army 13 years ago under the WIA policy. He takes home Le500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Leones) monthly. The money is insufficient but puts up with situation as long it comes promptly.
Lance Corporal Turay also told Nightwatch that Fanta’s action went contrary to a government press release which says they must be paid from the 19th, 20th and at least 21st of every month. The employee is seen as one that poses a threat to the livelihood of the ex-servicemen.
Corporal Turay and his men seemingly express restraint owing to the good relationship they enjoy with NASSIT. “NASSIT has been doing very well for us because we receive prompt salaries at the end of every month,” he commended.
Turay goes on, on to state that, it is only such relationship with the agency that restrains them from taking to the streets.
The old soldier also sees the employee’s action as a clear sabotage of government’s effort for social justice.
Fanta Could not be reached to get her own side of the allegations.
Between 1991 and 2002, Sierra Leone was engulfed by an all-out conflict referred to as one the bloodiest guerrilla warfares on the continent.
The national army and other foreign troops took part in it to save Sierra Leone. It was during the war that a good number of soldiers sustained serious injuries which reduced their capacity to execute military duties.
Government had no alternative but to discharge from the army with a reasonable allowance paid to them monthly.