By Jacob Fahnbulleh
MONROVIA – It seems the crisis at the national broadcaster, the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) is far from over, as the Workers’ Union of the entity on today, declared a vote of no confidence in LBS Director General, Eugene L. Fahngon.
A vote of no confidence also known as a motion of no confidence, is a statement or vote that a person or persons in a position of responsibility such as a government or managerial post is no longer deemed fit to hold that position: perhaps because they are inadequate in some respect, are failing to carry out obligations, or are making decisions considered detrimental.
LBS Workers’ Union President Joseph O. Sayon told a press conference last week that the Union was giving Fahngon a 72-hour ultimatum to address a six-count demand from LBS workers, or the Union would have declared a vote of no confidence in the LBS Director General.
The Workers Union’s 72-hour ultimatum elapsed Monday, January 20, 2025, with Fahngon downplaying the workers’ demands and terming concerns they raised as baseless attempts to undermine progress being made at the national broadcaster under his leadership.
Howbeit, Sayon, in two radio appearances on Wednesday, announced that LBS Workers’ Union has declared a vote of no confidence in Director General Fahngon, instructing workers of the institution to no longer take instructions from the embattled Director General.
He disclosed that the vote of no confidence against Fahngon remains enforced until President Joseph Boakai makes a decision to replace him as Director General of LBS.
Sayon threatened go-slow action by LBS workers in the soonest possible time, should Fahngon stay on at LBS as Director General.
Last week, at a press conference, LBS Workers’ Union accused Fahngon of indulging in autocratic leadership style, indicating that the LBS Director General is running the affairs of the state-owned media house with iron fist, and that he’s intimidating, harassing, and verbally assaulting LBS workers on a daily basis.
The Union outlined several anomalies which it termed as missteps, poor administrative actions, and draconian decisions taken by Fahngon, as Director General of LBS within just a month shy of a year.
The LBS Workers’ Union accused Fahngon of unilaterally suspending all benefits for employees and other staff of LBS, as spelled out in the System’s Human Resource Manual for workers; his abrupt and unilateral abolition of workers’ year-end bonus, widely referred to by staffers and past management teams as “13th Month”; and as well as using as his reliance to continue suppressing free speech and to enforce his unethical and abusive leadership decisions at LBS, a draconian instrument, the infamous PRC Decree.
The Workers’ Union also outlined some of Fahngon’s alleged excesses as his authoritarian behavior, coupled with his lack of understanding and empathy for staff of LBS, which the Union claims have led to the creation of a hostile work atmosphere at the national broadcaster.
However, at a press conference broadcast live via state radio and television, Fahngon responded to the Liberia Broadcasting System Workers’ Union (LBSWU), terming assertions from LBSWU’s president Sayon as false narratives that should not be given credence by Liberians.
“The old system of entitlement is gone,” said Fahngon, who asserted that on his watch, LBS now operates based on principles of accountability, transparency, and service.
“They do not determine who serves this government or how we fulfill our mandate to the Liberian people,” Fahngon stated.
He termed the LBS Workers’ Union action as a smear campaign, labeling the masterminds of same as those exploiting public platforms to manipulate narratives, tarnish reputations, and advance selfish agendas.
“These individuals are sowing division and creating controversy to distract from the government’s progress,” said Fahngon, who accused those he fell short of naming of having a primary aim to undermine the reforms and transformation under his watch at LBS.
