By Haddy Touray
The Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) and the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) Friday signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening social security compliance, institutional accountability and quality assurance in The Gambia’s tertiary and higher education sector.
The agreement, signed on 31 July 2026 at NAQAA headquarters, seeks to ensure that tertiary and higher education institutions regulated by NAQAA comply with the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation Act 2015 by registering with SSHFC, enrolling eligible employees and remitting statutory social security contributions on time.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, SSHFC Managing Director Saloum Malang described the agreement as a strategic partnership that would enhance institutional governance, regulatory compliance and social protection.
“This MoU represents more than a formal agreement. It reflects our shared commitment to protecting the rights and future of employees within the tertiary education sector while promoting institutional accountability and regulatory compliance,” he said.
Mr. Malang said institutions accredited by NAQAA have a responsibility to protect their employees by complying with statutory social security obligations, adding that compliance should be regarded as an investment in workers’ welfare, dignity and long-term financial security.
He noted that the partnership supports the government’s broader objective of strengthening public institutions, improving regulatory coordination and expanding social protection coverage across all sectors of the economy.
The SSHFC Managing Director also commended NAQAA, under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Momodou Lamin Tarro, for its commitment to maintaining quality standards in tertiary and higher education institutions.
For his part, Dr. Tarro said the agreement brings together two institutions with complementary mandates, noting that while NAQAA is responsible for regulating and assuring quality in tertiary and higher education, SSHFC safeguards workers’ social and economic interests through social security and housing finance services.
He said the partnership would enable NAQAA to integrate social security compliance more effectively into its quality assurance framework.
“This MoU represents much more than the signing of a formal agreement. It reflects the convergence of two institutions with complementary mandates and a common objective of strengthening institutional compliance and promoting national development,” Dr. Tarro said.
He added that the collaboration would encourage higher education institutions to strengthen governance systems while safeguarding the welfare and retirement benefits of their employees.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will coordinate compliance monitoring, share information, undertake stakeholder engagement and implement capacity-building initiatives.
A joint technical committee will oversee the implementation of the agreement, coordinate activities and monitor progress throughout the five-year period.
The partnership also places responsibility on tertiary and higher education institutions to fulfil their statutory obligations as employers by ensuring full compliance with social security requirements for the benefit of their employees.