A reporter of ELBC Radio 99.9 FM and President of the Liberia Broadcasting System workers union, Joseph Sayon has been dismissed.
Sayon was dismissed by LBS’ Director General, Eugene Fahngon, on accusation of defamation and raising false accusations.
Recently, Sayon as workers union president recently alarmed workers’ dissatisfaction, describing the working environment as toxic, citing management’s alarming disregard for transparency and accountability.
The workers union accused Fahngon of doubling his weekly allowance from US$750 to US$1,500, and simultaneously stripped employees of basic benefits and as far as suspending workers allowances, while at the same time also ramping up the use of threats, intimidation, and arbitrary firings, and engaging in unethical practices.
The union’s leadership had given Fahngon a 72-hour ultimatum to address the growing dissatisfaction among employees or face the prospect of a no-confidence vote.
However, Fahngon said an internal investigation of the claims found that the accusations were unsubstantiated.
He said an investigation conducted by the authority, concluded that there was no evidence to support the claims made by the union president. Instead, the committee’s findings revealed that Sayon had failed to adhere to proper grievance procedures, opting instead to air unfounded accusations in a public forum.
He described the allegations as “baseless fabrications” aimed at undermining the integrity of the entity’s leadership.
“This institution thrives on transparency and accountability. It is unfortunate that Joseph Sayon chose to weaponize falsehoods intended to terminate my work,” he said.
Fahngon argued that Jospeh Sayon’s actions jeopardized the credibility of the union.
“We support union leadership, but it must be grounded in truth and professionalism,” said the LBS boss.
The Director General has assured the public and staff that the dismissal does not reflect an attack on any member of the union but rather a commitment to preserving the organization’s integrity.
“As a public institution, we must ensure that our actions are guided by facts, not falsehoods,” he said.
This development has sparked broader conversations about the role of union leaders in safeguarding workers’ rights while maintaining ethical standards in their advocacy.