11
By Dawda Baldeh
The leader of the Alliance of Progressive Citizens (APC), Modou Lamin Sima, has pledged to expand The Gambia’s social protection system, introducing unemployment support, transport schemes and additional benefits for retirees if elected president in December.
Speaking to The Fatu Network, Sima said an APC government would go beyond the country’s existing social security arrangements by introducing broader welfare programmes aimed at workers, unemployed young people and pensioners.
A former employee of the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), Sima described himself as “a specialist in social protection, not social security”, arguing that many welfare programmes remain underdeveloped in The Gambia.
“First and foremost, we are going to expand social security. On social protection, we are going to expand.
Expansion means creating more schemes, while extension means reaching out to more people and providing them with services,” he said.
Among the proposals outlined by the APC leader is an unemployment support scheme funded through worker contributions, which he said could provide vocational training, stipends and start-up support for young people.
“For example, we can sponsor you to acquire skills and also give you a stipend. If you train as a welder, tailor or engage in petty trading, we can finance you to establish your own enterprise,” he explained.
Sima also proposed a national transport scheme under which workers would contribute to a fund supporting dedicated transport services for commuters.
On retirement benefits, he said an APC government would explore using a portion of social security funds to provide additional support for older citizens, including subsidised healthcare, medical insurance and transport assistance.
“We can create a pool from a fraction of the contributions and use it to establish benefits for old age,” he said.
“You can be a pension holder and still benefit from healthcare subsidies. We can provide medical insurance or give you a free transport card. These are the kinds of ideas we want to introduce.”
Sima said the proposals would form part of a broader economic programme focused on job creation, domestic production, support for local businesses and reform of financial institutions.
