NASSCORP At 50,  Celebrating Five Decades Of Social Security, National Impact In Liberia

By Amos Harris

Monrovia, Montserrado – As Liberia’s National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) prepares to commemorate its 50th anniversary in July 2025, the institution stands tall as a pillar of social protection, development, and national resilience. Since its founding in 1975, NASSCORP has evolved into a key player in Liberia’s socio-economic landscape, touching thousands of lives through pension benefits, investments, infrastructure development, and emergency response initiatives.

Created under an Act of Legislature to provide social protection to Liberian workers, NASSCORP administers two flagship programs:

• The Employment Injury Scheme (EIS): Offers income replacement and medical care for workers affected by job-related injuries and occupational diseases.
• The National Pension Scheme (NPS): Provides retirement and survivor benefits to workers and their dependents.

These schemes form the bedrock of Liberia’s formal social protection network, offering a vital safety net to thousands of public and private sector employees.

Over five decades, NASSCORP has made profound contributions to national development. From 2017 to 2021 alone, the corporation invested millions in welfare, education, infrastructure, healthcare, and disaster response. Under the stewardship of Director General Hon. Dewitt von Ballmoos, NASSCORP disbursed US$69.4 million in benefits to 15,602 beneficiaries in the past five years. Between 2006 and 2022, this figure soared to over US$106 million. Such financial commitments demonstrate the institution’s unwavering dedication to supporting retirees and workers injured on duty, while also fueling long-term national development through strategic investment and social interventions.

NASSCORP’s anniversary journey highlights a significant legacy of care and commitment through various initiatives:

• Renovating the operating theater at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
• Supplying uniforms and paying school fees for underprivileged girls in Monrovia.
• Donating 50,000 notebooks to the Ministry of Education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Providing safe drinking water to health centers and vulnerable communities.

These initiatives reflect the institution’s broad understanding of social security, extending beyond pensions into holistic community welfare.

One of the institution’s landmark health investments is the Jahmale Medical Solutions Laboratory in Paynesville. This state-of-the-art diagnostic facility delivers advanced medical services locally, significantly reducing the need for costly overseas treatments. It symbolizes NASSCORP’s innovative approach to social investment.

NASSCORP’s infrastructure footprint has grown significantly, contributing to both service delivery and revenue generation:

• NASSCORP House at ELWA Junction: A modern multi-story complex housing government agencies, including the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA).
• Regional offices and guest houses in Kakata, Buchanan, Tubmanburg, and Voinjama.
• 160 housing units constructed in Montserrado and Margibi for low-income families.

These physical assets not only enhance service delivery but also serve as revenue-generating investments to sustain social programs.

Retired educator Mr. Cheslie Mennoh of Sinoe County, who served in the education sector for 57 years, commended NASSCORP for its consistency in monthly pension disbursements. “Since I retired in 2020, NASSCORP has paid me regularly without delay,” he said, praising the agency for its reliability while urging an increase in benefit amounts to match the high cost of living. He further appealed for inclusivity, stressing that retirees from the civil service who have not yet been enrolled should be brought into the fold.

Over the years, NASSCORP has been a frontline contributor to national disaster relief efforts, including:

• Supporting victims of the West Point fire and Buchanan rainstorm.
• Donating essential supplies during the Ebola crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.
• Partnering in community rebuilding efforts across affected regions.

These humanitarian responses underscore NASSCORP’s role beyond financial payouts—as a first responder in times of national distress.

After Liberia’s civil conflict, rebuilding trust was a priority. Key reform initiatives implemented by NASSCORP included:

• A Biometric ID system to reduce fraud.
• Direct bank transfers for benefit payments.
• Nationwide verification and validation of beneficiaries.
• Clearance of decades-old benefit arrears, paying out over US$10.3 million to more than 6,000 beneficiaries.

These actions solidified NASSCORP’s reputation for accountability, transparency, and efficient service delivery.

NASSCORP’s focus on staff training has fostered a high-morale work environment. Investments in both local and international capacity building have ensured the agency remains dynamic and forward-thinking. Under Director General Dewitt von Ballmoos’ transformative leadership, the corporation has transitioned from basic service provision to becoming a strategic national actor with an expanding mandate.

In September 2024, the African Development Bank approved a US$400,000 grant for the Liberia Pension Sector Reform Project. This initiative aims to:

• Extend pension coverage to informal and private sector workers.
• Develop a national pension strategy.
• Strengthen governance and institutional capacity within the sector.

The Central Bank of Liberia is implementing the project, supported by NASSCORP, with the goal of improving coverage and creating a broader base for future retirees.

In May 2025, NASSCORP underwent Freedom of Information (FOI) compliance training, led by the Independent Information Commission. Officials were trained on public rights to access government-held information, publishing budgets, financial reports, and internal policies, and establishing an Internal Review Committee for information requests. These efforts reflect NASSCORP’s move toward greater openness and citizen engagement.

In collaboration with the Civil Service Agency (CSA), NASSCORP launched pre-retirement counseling workshops in all 15 counties in 2024, enrolling over 1,400 soon-to-be retirees. A key reform was scrapping the outdated requirement for retirees to present 10 years of salary records, thereby fast-tracking enrollment into the national pension system.

As the Corporation prepares for its Golden Jubilee, its mission remains rooted in resilience, reform, and service. Plans are underway to expand programs into Liberia’s informal employment sector, which remains underserved. Increased digitization, greater transparency, pension system modernization, and social investment remain central to NASSCORP’s forward strategy.

Director General Dewitt von Ballmoos recently stated, “We are proud of how far we’ve come, but the journey continues. We will remain responsive to the needs of our people and agile in addressing Liberia’s changing socio-economic realities.”

From disbursing millions in benefits to building essential infrastructure and supporting national emergencies, NASSCORP’s legacy over the last five decades is one of service, strength, and steady progress. As July 2025 approaches, Liberians prepare not only to celebrate an anniversary but to honor an institution that has, for half a century, stood as a pillar of social protection and national development.