The law establishing the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) – a merger of the Social Security fund of Rwanda (SSFR) and Rwanda Medical Insurance Company (RAMA) -  has come into force.

According to the Minister of Finance, John Rwangombwa, the objective of the merger was to ensure efficiency and quality service since both institutions were serving one purpose - social security.

"They were more or less the same, so the objective of the government was to bring the two bodies together under one fund, and this will ensure efficiency in terms of management and services provided,” Rwangombwa said.

"Instead of having two institutions doing the same thing, we saw it wiser to bring them under one roof to make it easier for the government to manage and also cut management costs,” he added.

The ministry now has the task of harmonising the activities of the two bodies, in the next six months, as stipulated by the law.

Rwangombwa did not rule out the possibility of some employees losing jobs during the merger, saying that normally such reforms come with consequences.

"Those who will not be taken on board, its normal, we have been reforming government institutions and we have been having people laid off and they are given benefits to start afresh, and to me it won’t be a surprise,” Rwangombwa told The New Times.

He, however, said that he expects the transition to go smoothly and within in the stipulated time frame.

The Acting Director General of SSFR, Africa Ramba said that the new merger is all about "social protection” and that under RSSB, people will continue to receive the same services and products.

"RSSB will carry on the assignments that were being carried out by the two institutions, but this time, under one institution. By law, all the assets of SFFR and RAMA and all liabilities are going to be taken on by RSSB,” Ramba explained.

"There is a lot to be done regarding merging everything, from staff, to properties, operation systems and the new structure of RSSB, which will take some time,” he added.

Ramba assured the public that the transition into RSSB will not disrupt the activities and services the two organisations have been offering, but rather will ensure efficiency.

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