The Liberia Broadcasting System Workers’ Union (LIBWSU) has sounded an alarm about what they describe as an oppressive and dysfunctional leadership under Eugene L. Fahngon, the Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS).
Speaking through a strongly worded press statement on Thursday, January 16, 2025, the workers condemned Fahngon’s alleged autocratic rule, accusing him of fostering a toxic work environment that stifles creativity and undermines productivity at the state-owned media house.
The release, signed by Kolubah Zayzay, Secretary General, and approved by Joseph Sayon, President of the Workers’ Union, detailed various grievances against Fahngon. The union claims Fahngon’s leadership has been marked by intimidation, harassment, and disregard for labor rights. The union expressed dismay at what it called Fahngon’s “iron-fist” approach to management, which it argues has subjected employees to psychological torture and hostility.
The union lamented that, despite months of silence, their patience has reached its limit. “We have been silent not because we are weak but because we hoped for change,” the statement read. “Today, we are compelled to speak out and inform the public, as well as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, about Mr. Fahngon’s abusive leadership and its devastating impact on LBS workers.”
Highlighting Fahngon’s alleged excesses, the union cataloged numerous grievances, including the suspension of worker benefits, arbitrary dismissals, and failure to provide promised insurance. They accused Fahngon of abolishing year-end bonuses without justification, interfering with union affairs, and using threats to suppress dissent.
One of the more glaring allegations involves dismissing Peter Clinton, an operations department staffer, under what the union described as dubious circumstances. Additionally, the workers decried Fahngon’s unilateral decision to cancel LBS’s traditional Christmas party for children, blaming it on construction activities at the broadcaster’s premises—a claim the union dismissed as baseless.
“Fahngon’s slogan, ‘LBS will never be the same,’ has turned into a grim reality,” the union stated. “Instead of building upon the gains of his predecessors, he has eroded them, plunging LBS into unprecedented dysfunction.”
The workers also accused Fahngon of hypocrisy, recalling how he had once promised to liberate them from the “slavery” of past administrations. “Far from freeing us, Mr. Fahngon has become the oppressor-in-chief, presiding over a reign of psychological torture and endless threats of dismissal,” they said.
The union further revealed that Fahngon’s alleged neglect has left sick employees without support, forcing their colleagues to donate money to cover medical costs. Meanwhile, Fahngon is said to have raised his weekly allowance from $750 to $1,500, demonstrating what the union called a “blatant disregard” for the welfare of LBS workers.
Describing Fahngon as a “one-man show,” the union accused him of sidelining senior management, abolishing top management meetings, and taking unilateral decisions without consultation. “This is the worst administration in LBS history,” the union declared, blaming Fahngon’s “remote-controlled leadership” for the organization’s decline.
In response to the situation, the workers outlined six key demands, including restoring suspended benefits, reinstating the dismissed employee, and an immediate end to intimidation and harassment. They also called on Fahngon to respect the workers’ right to manage the LBS canteen and urged him to cease targeting employees who disagree with his policies.
The union warned that if their demands are not met within 72 hours, they will declare a vote of no confidence in Fahngon’s leadership. “Enough is enough,” the statement read. “Gone are the days when LBS workers would sit idly by while their rights are trampled upon.”
The statement also attacked Fahngon’s alleged reliance on his perceived close relationship with President Boakai to shield himself from accountability. “We call on the President to intervene and save LBS from the hands of Mr. Fahngon,” the union urged, emphasizing its commitment to fighting for a better working environment.
