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The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has updated its membership and the general public on its intervention in the recent protest by staff of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), which began on Wednesday, 8th May 2025.
The staff, however, described their action as a ‘consultation’ rather than a protest or strike.
“Our intervention was guided by our responsibility to uphold media freedom and professionalism while ensuring the protection and promotion of the welfare of journalists and media workers across the country.’’
According to SLAJ, on 8th May, following reports of an unannounced staff protest at SLBC, SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla and his team visited the national broadcaster and engaged with the protesting staff. While acknowledging their right to protest and demand better conditions, the SLAJ President strongly admonished them to do so within the confines of the law, peacefully and without any form of violence or disorderly conduct.
‘’We urged the staff to organise themselves into a formal association or committee that can constructively engage management and relevant stakeholders on their behalf.’’
SLAJ further condemned the alleged physical assault on a fellow journalist (Prince Kamara of Open Space Newspaper) who was reportedly attacked during the protest while trying to interview the Deputy Director General. The protestors claimed the journalist had been publishing one-sided reports on developments at SLBC.
SLAJ made it categorically clear that there is no justification for violence against any journalist, regardless of grievances, and called for peaceful resolution. We advised the assaulted journalist to make a formal report to the police. Simultaneously, SLAJ initiated a dialogue involving the journalist, his employer, and the SLBC Director General, who expressed concern for the health of the assaulted colleague, to amicably resolve the matter as it involved professionals in the same field.
Furthermore, SLAJ engaged the Ministry of Labour on 9th May 2025. Through the Ministry of Labour, led by Minister Mohamed Rahman Swarray and Commissioner of Labour Sinneh Bockarie, a dialogue meeting involving SLBC staff (led by a de facto leader, Ibrahim Samura). The Minister used the opportunity to explain the country’s labour laws, especially provisions governing lawful strike actions.
The following key action points were agreed:
- i) The Labour Ministry will release a report on workplace safety and security at SLBC.
- ii) The Ministry will review welfare concerns raised by staff in line with the Labour Act and make appropriate recommendations.
iii) The issue of volunteers and unpaid acting positions will be looked into, and all backlog payments for acting roles should be addressed.
- iv) SLAJ will follow up with the Ministry on implementation progress.
- v) A nationwide audit of the welfare of media practitioners will be conducted by the Ministry.
SLAJ welcomed these commitments and assured both the Ministry and SLBC staff that it will monitor progress and continue to advocate for the fair treatment of journalists and media workers.
