The National Executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on Monday 26th September 2022 engaged the management of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) on issues surrounding staff welfare, allegations of unequal access by opposition political parties, and critical civil society activists, as well as challenges faced by the national broadcaster.
The SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, informed the SLBC Director General Joseph Egbenda Kapuwa Esq (COR) and his team that SLAJ has been receiving complaints from staff of the SLBC, especially SLAJ members, on issues relating to suspensions, indefinite suspensions, intimidation, resignations, dismissals, among others. He said some of the complaints have been forwarded to the SLAJ representative in the SLBC Board for investigation but that the Executive thought it fit to engage the management of the institution to find out their side of the story and to work together to strengthen the staff-management relations.
The second issue highlighted by the SLAJ President is related to allegations by political parties about unequal access to the platform of the national broadcaster and underreporting of their activities. He also mentioned allegations by critical civil society activists of being denied access to the platform to comment on important national issues.
Nasralla further requested to know the plans of the SLBC ahead of the public elections in June 2023 to ensure inclusiveness and equal access to the national broadcaster on the one hand, and how SLAJ and the national broadcaster can collaborate to promote information integrity during the electioneering period on the other hand.
The SLAJ President also encouraged the SLBC DG to share challenges faced by the state broadcaster to see how the Association can help in terms of lobbying and advocacy to ensure the institution receives the necessary support to perform its role efficiently and effectively.
“The SLBC is a very important institution to our democracy, and it probably accounts for the highest number of SLAJ members across the country. So we are concerned about what is happening here and we want to see the SLBC grow; we also want to see our members who are heading the institution succeed,” said Nasralla.
Nasralla thanked the SLBC management for improvement in the quality of its staff, the regular payment of salaries, and for having more women in management positions, according to information received from the Board.
In response, the SLBC Director General appreciated the courtesy call by SLAJ wishing to hear from him and his management on issues affecting staff and challenges facing the operations of the institution.
He maintained that the SLBC is not like a voluntary association like SLAJ, but an institution established by an Act of Parliament and governed by rules and regulations prescribed by law. He said every staff of SLBC has a copy of the operational employee manual containing the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’.
On the issue of suspensions, dismissals, intimidation, and resignations, the Director assured that the SLBC under his leadership does not have that posture of an institution that intimidates its staff, or suspends them unnecessarily.
“We don’t just wake up and decide to suspend or terminate the services of our staff just like that. In fact, the only staff whose service was terminated during my time here was the late Claudius Beckley; and even that one was sanctioned by the Board after thorough investigation and warnings,” explained Kapuwa.
He explained that the conduct of some staff of the SLBC actually deserves summary dismissals but management continues to restrain itself from such decisions. He said some staff do not take their work seriously as they come to work very late and leave the office early while others would abandon their work for weeks, others for months, without informing management. Some staff, he continued, will come to work at 2pm and leave by 4pm, and they get paid at the end of every month for doing nothing.
“Permanent staff are behaving like contract staff; they are not always around. Ninety percent of the current newsroom staff are interns who do all the work in the absence of the substantive staff who are always not around to do the work they are being paid for. Despite being on exams, some of these interns still find time to do their work,” Kapuwa explained, adding that quality is also really lacking and that is the challenge they have with a good number of the permanent staff.
The DG said Management has been encouraging some staff to endeavor to upgrade themselves so that they can compete with others and earn attractive salaries. In most cases, he said, Management would retain the interns after their program so that the institution can maintain quality content and output.
The SLBC DG cited the case of a particular staff under suspension currently, who had been previously suspended more than seven times predating his assumption of office as DG. He said the staff abandoned his work for three weeks without informing the management as to the reason for his absence.
In addition, the SLBC Director cited the ongoing investigation of technical staff assigned at Leicester Peak who have already pleaded guilty to acts of sabotage by stealing fuel meant for the SLBC generator and substituting it with water.
“It is hard to believe how long-serving technical staff can decide to steal fuel and instead turn water into the generator tank meant for servicing our critical infrastructure at Leicester Peak. Now, we have to repair the generator to serve us temporarily while we find money to buy a new one,” explained Kapuwa.
He further informed SLAJ that staff are frequently busy loudly arguing, and even quarreling, on issues that may be in court or related to politics even when guests are walking through the corridor and can clearly hear them. According to the DG, the independence and professionalism of these staff come into question when you assign them to cover such issues that they already have strong opinions about.
“As Management, we have bent over backward too much in so far as the matters of the law is concerned. A lot of people have no business here. The conduct leaves much to be desired professionally,” Kapuwa said.
On the allegations of political parties, the SLBC Director General challenged them to come forward and make their claims as SLBC has records of guests coming to represent or speak on behalf of their political parties on various programs. He assured that they will continue to give space to political parties and also cover their events, and accommodate all shades of opinion.
He said the same for critical civil society activists but noted that some activists would call requesting to be interviewed on particular issues and they do not want to be produced.
“They need to be produced to get a better program rather than just allowing someone to come to our studios and speak on issues without getting other sides,” Kapuwa said.
On their preparations for the 2023 elections, the SLBC DG maintained that they used to hire at least 100 freelance staff to help cover elections but that does not seem to work this time as the Ministry of Finance is complaining about resources. He welcomes the support of SLAJ to see how best they can join SLBC in advocating for more help.
He informed SLAJ that the SLBC Board members are probably the least remunerated compared to other Boards.
“It is ridiculous the allowances they are receiving for the level of work they are doing. There is no official vehicle, we have to rent a vehicle to transport fuel to Leicester Peak. What we have as a vehicle is a taxi. It is affecting our operations,” lamented Kapuwa, adding that the institution is in dire need of equipment ranging from computers and personal laptops to cameras and furniture.
However, the SLBC DG highlighted the recent support by BBC Media Action with three new radio studios.
“Thanks to BBC Media Action we now have three radio studios. So radio is doing fine while TV is still in the works,” said Kapuwa.
Meanwhile, the SLAJ representative on the SLBC Board, Dr. Williette P.R.O James, disclosed that most of the complaints against staff border on lack of discipline. She advised that the SLBC should try and demystify its policies so staff would not be found wanting all the time.
