SSHFC, NAQAA Sign Five-Year Partnership to Strengthen Social Security Compliance in Higher Education

By Seedy Jobe

The Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) and the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening social security compliance across The Gambia’s tertiary and higher education sector.

The agreement, signed on July 31, 2026, at NAQAA’s headquarters, establishes a strategic partnership between the two institutions to promote regulatory compliance, institutional accountability, and enhanced social protection for employees in higher education.

Under the five-year agreement, SSHFC and NAQAA will collaborate to ensure that all tertiary and higher education institutions regulated by NAQAA comply with the provisions of the SSHFC Act 2015. The partnership seeks to encourage institutions to register with SSHFC, enroll eligible employees, and remit statutory social security contributions in accordance with the law.

The two institutions will also coordinate compliance monitoring, share information, engage stakeholders, and undertake capacity-building initiatives to improve adherence to social security obligations throughout the sector.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, SSHFC Managing Director Saloum Malang described the MoU as more than a formal agreement, saying it marks the beginning of a strategic partnership founded on a shared commitment to strengthening institutional governance, regulatory compliance, and social protection in The Gambia.

He noted that NAQAA-accredited institutions play a vital role in developing the country’s future workforce and, as employers, have a responsibility to safeguard the rights and welfare of their employees.

“It is therefore essential that they also uphold their legal obligations as employers by ensuring that every eligible employee is registered with SSHFC and that statutory contributions are paid promptly and consistently,” Mr. Malang said.

He stressed that compliance should not be viewed merely as a legal obligation but as an investment in the welfare, dignity, and long-term security of employees.

According to Mr. Malang, the collaboration aligns with the government’s broader agenda of promoting accountability, regulatory coordination, and decent work. He urged both institutions to focus on effective implementation, emphasizing that the partnership’s success would be measured by tangible outcomes rather than the signing ceremony itself.

He said the initiative aims to increase employer compliance, strengthen institutional governance, enhance employee protection, and contribute to a more resilient national social security system.

NAQAA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Momodou Lamin Tarro described the agreement as a partnership between two institutions with complementary mandates.

He explained that while NAQAA is responsible for regulating and assuring quality in tertiary and higher education, SSHFC is mandated to safeguard workers’ social and economic interests through social security and housing finance services.

Dr. Tarro said both institutions recognize that quality education must be underpinned by sound governance and full compliance with national laws governing employers’ obligations.

“We are confident that this partnership will serve as a model of effective inter-agency collaboration and contribute significantly to strengthening governance, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance within the tertiary and higher education sector,” he said.

To facilitate implementation, Dr. Tarro announced the establishment of a joint technical committee that will coordinate activities, monitor progress, and oversee execution of the agreement.

Both institutions pledged to translate the MoU into concrete action through sustained collaboration. The joint technical committee will lead implementation efforts with the goal of strengthening regulatory compliance, protecting employees’ rights, and reinforcing governance and quality standards across The Gambia’s tertiary and higher education sector.