RTNB-Burundi: a petition addressed to the Head of State requesting the release of salaries

The staff of the National Radio and Television of Burundi (RTNB) signed a petition addressed, Wednesday morning, to the Burundian Head of State, Évariste Ndayishimiye, asking the implementation of the presidential decree on the administrative release and fictitious career advancement. This follows the decision of the council of ministers postponing the salary release. INFOS SOS Médias Burundi

RTNB is one of the 133 public institutions with special statuses requesting the application of the presidential decree of September 1, 2023, on salary release.

Of roughly 400 employees, nearly all of them, according to an RTNB union official, signed the petition sent to President Ndayishimiye despite the disagreement of the RTNB administration.

This RTNB staff’s move was triggered by the decision of the council of ministers halting the salary release. And for good reason, during its meeting on Wednesday October 18, 2023, the council of ministers accused certain institutions affected by that decision of having deliberately made erroneous salary calculations.

An emergency meeting was then arranged by the RTNB top officials to counter the actions of the staff of this government run broadcaster.

At the meeting held on Wednesday afternoon and attended by Thierry Kitamoya, minister of communication’s assistant, Éric Nshimirimana, director general of RTNB, reacting to an observation by an employee, said that the question of salary release does not concern him.

According to our sources, Mr. Nshimirimana was interviewed Thursday morning by the National Intelligence Service (SNR).

RTNB employees, like those of the 132 other institutions with special status, say they do not understand why the presidential decree of September 1, 2023 on administrative release and fictitious career advancement has not yet been executed by the finance ministry.

According to the decree, the new released salary should be received with that of October 2023.