News

The National Anti Corruption Strategy, NACS, has formed integrity committees at the Makeni City and Bombali District Councils in in line with provisions of the Revised National Anti-Corruption Strategy (RNACS) 2011-2013.

Regional manager north, Patrick Sandi, assured that the efforts would mark another milestone in the Commission’s fight against corruption.

He noted that the committees would be charged with the responsibility of addressing corruption issues in the Action Plans with the aim of minimising incidences of corruption in the councils.

The Association of Sierra Leone Journalists In exile (ASALJIE) in Sydney, Australia has supported several media houses with Laptops, Solar Lamps and a complete set of Encyclopedia. This was made possible through the involvement of David Tam-Baryoh and Alpha Rashid Jalloh, both journalists working in Freetown.

The presentation was done at the board room of the Independent Media Commission on Monday 4 June.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF SIERRA LEONE

PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO ALLEGED GROSS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BUMBUNA, TONKOLILI DISTRICT IN RELATION TO THE EVENTS OF 16^TH, 17^TH AND 18^TH APRIL 2012

 [Under Section 7(2) of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Act 2004 and Rule 42 of the  Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (Complaints, Investigations and Inquiries)  Rules, 2008.]

Background

In complete violation of the provisions of the Act that set up to the National Social Security and Insurance Trust, both government and private employers owe their employees huge backlogs of their social security contributions. According to a document authenticated by NASSIT, the private employers owe the institution in excess of Le 432 Million. And this does not include penalty. See below of defaulting institutions:

A document available to Politico and authenticated by senior officials of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), who prefer anonymity, shows that Government institutions and Parastatals owe the social security scheme over Le 16 Billion.

“If you think that amount is too much,” one of them said grim-facedly, “wait until you see what private employers owe us”. (See Politico next week for detail on private employers and what they owe their staff).

By Zainab Joaque

Scores of striking workers at Africell mobile phone company have returned to work after management committed themselves to meeting all their demands, agreeing in principle that a staff union should be formed.

Although some 88 contract workers at the call centre are now full time staff with hopes to benefit from the proposed salary review early next year, no exact figure is guaranteed.