Covid-19 forces fund to open new service centre

THE National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund) opened its third client service centre in the National Capital District yesterday.
According to Nasfund, the office was scheduled to be opened later this year but was opened ahead of schedule due to circumstances related to the coronavirus (Covid-19).
Chief executive officer Ian Tarutia said the facility was a temporary set up.
“This client centre was not scheduled to be operational at this time,” he said.
“It was planned to be opened later this year or early next year with a different design and a different set up.
“However, circumstances relating to the Covid-19, the declaration of a state of emergency and a request by our Government to directly assist impacted members prompted us to fast track this process.
“Thus the facility is a temporary set up but is fully functional.”
Tarutia said the new norm of client servicing now requires larger spacing and social distancing to ensure the health and safety of members.
“We are now looking at erecting marquees out in the front to provide shelter from the sun from our members and that will be happening in the coming weeks.”
Head of strategy implementation Turaho Morea explained that there would be six client services officers manning the new office with two back office staff and a supervisor.
Morea said the office would help take off some of the load, especially for the fund’s Boroko office.
“The services here will be all the services that you normally expect in our Port Moresby or Boroko branches and any other branches nationwide,” he said.
“We will be processing the all the withdrawals here as well as the housing advances.”