Shake up looms at NCN as staff told to submit list of duties; HR Manager asked to resign

Some staff members are jittery about the board's request for them to submit their list of duties and responsibilities. NCN's board may now be making moves to trim the number of persons in the employ of the company.

Shake up looms at NCN as staff told to submit list of duties; HR Manager asked to resign

The more than 150 staff members of the state-owned National Communications Network have been asked to furnish the board of the company with their list of duties and job responsibilities.

The move comes one day after the NCN Chief Executive Officer Molly Hassan, tendered her resignation and on the same day that the Board and Management at NCN asked the Human Resources manager to tender his resignation. The company’s Information Technology manager has also called it quits.

Staff members were called to a meeting earlier today with board members and the company’s management including Hassan, who is expected to remain with the company over the next three months as it transitions to a new Chief Executive Officer.

Some staff members are jittery about the board’s request for them to submit their list of duties and responsibilities. NCN’s board may now be making moves to trim the number of persons in the employ of the company.

NCN currently has a monthly payroll of over $15 Million. Just after the elections, the company was forced to ask the new government for a $20 million injection to keep its operations going.

Over the past few years, NCN has been earning more than $500 Million per year but it is also owed hundreds of millions of dollars by various companies and even government agencies under the last government. The company’s operations cost is almost the same as its earnings.

In a statement this afternoon, the Board of NCN announced that it will soon be advertising the positions of CEO, Human Resources Manager, Programming Manager and IT Manager. Additionally the company has started a nationwide call for new announcers and persons to work in the programming field.

The move is all part of the company’s new efforts at rebranding and revitalisation.

See Full statement below: 

The newly appointed Board of the National Communications Network (NCN) having reviewed the strategic direction, operations and conditions at the state entity, has upon the onset of the new year embarked upon a vitalization project. NCN’s vitalization project has four main pillars.

Pillar 1: identifying a clear strategic direction based on national imperatives. To this end a comprehensive document has been produced by the board which provides the basis for the second, third and fourth pillars of the project.

Pillar 2: management restructure to meet the new strategic direction. The strategic direction now set has necessitated several changes. This includes changes at the administrative level of the organization based on revised terms of reference and competencies for the new structure. Several positions including those of CEO, Human Resources, ICT, Engineering and Programming have been rationalized.

Over the last two days the positions of the CEO, Human Resources and ICT have been voluntarily vacated. As a consequence advertisements will soon appear for suitably qualified persons to fill various posts within the entity. The Board of NCN has extended its sincere gratitude for their past service to those moving on and wishes them well in their future endeavors.

Pillar 3: re-branding and vitalizing the programming on NCN’s radio and television stations: There has been an intense and ongoing review of both the current programmes, systems, staff and technical facilities. In addition to internal work being done on re-branding, re-programming, training and creating a new content culture, a nationwide call is currently out for announcers, producers and fresh programme ideas.

Pillar 4: vitalizing plant and infrastructure – following months of extensive tours to NCNs national substations, as well as equipment audits and technical consultations with local and international experts, several urgent needs in the area of physical space, telecommunications infrastructure, training, management and equipment have been identified. The Board has been vigorously pursuing resources to rectify these problems and intends to continue this process in 2016.

The Board of NCN appointed just 3 months ago in October 2015, has re-iterated its commitment to resolutely pursuing this clear strategic direction in the best interest of the nation. As such all four pillars of the vitalization project are being pursued simultaneously.

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