SSHFC staff on another sit-down strike

By Pa Modou Cham
 

Staffs of the social security and housing finance corporation (SSHFC) are on another sit down strike, following the president decision of bringing back Director Mr. Mohammed Manjang in office. CTV Africa has been informed.

In a letter presented to President Barrow, indicated that, “we the staff of SSHFC most especially those that are signatories to the petition of “Vote of No Confidence” against our managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Manjang, are hereby expressing our total disappointment and shock over the president of the Republic of The Gambia, H.E Adama Barrow’s decision to terminate the services of our democratically and constitutionally elected staff rep on the board, The Right Hon. Momodou Camara.”

“This was contained in a press statement conveyed on the official website of the state House of The Gambia on Friday, the 9^th November, 2018. The statement further went on to indicate further disciplinary measures to be taken against those staff that are part of the saga. There are also reports in the grapevine that there are some staff whose services will be terminated and those that are to be demoted and this; we think must be reversed to maintain the peace that this institution has been known for.”

They said Hon. Mr. Camara is only their staff rep and mouthpiece on the board. They also indicated that he has never represented any act of misdeed and unethical conduct before and during the course of this saga. 

“He was not even present on the day the office premises were locked as he started serving his suspension in earnest. Mr. President, please know that the Right Hon. Camara is a man of impeccable character and highest moral standing. Victimizing him and other staff form only exposing their leader’s corruption and other serious administrative malpractices that were proven beyond reasonable doubt is not only unfair to us but tantamount gross injustice against the staff of this noble institution. We the staff are never resistant to any change or reform but only exposed what is not right in our corporate governance structure. We have worked diligently and honestly to the best of our ability over the years and served this institution and this great country with all honesty.”

“We further wish to remind you Mr. President that it was Manjang who was culpable and found guilty after findings and investigations as further reaffirmed and attested to by the office of the Ombudsman, the body established by an act of Parliament to ascertain facts in these kinds of industrial disputes. Manjang was found guilty of basically all damning and compelling evidence of corruption, blatant theft in terms of the per diem and office AC, nepotism, favoritism and gross institutional injustice of the highest scale. These traits are totally against the prescribed tenets of the corporate governance practices and this New Gambia must not be seen to be encouraging such travesties.” These were content in the letter.