Politics
Southern Radio and Television Organization Faces Risk of Closure
The Reporter (Amharic) · 4 hours ago · Read the Full Story on The Reporter (Amharic)
AI SUMMARY
The Southern Radio and Television Organization is facing a severe risk of closure due to a persistent lack of budget allocation and institutional support from its governing regional states following the division of the former SNNPR region.
- The Southern Radio and Television Organization has faced severe operational neglect and budget deficits over the past four years following the division of the former SNNPR into four distinct regions.
- While Central Ethiopia and South Ethiopia regions have provided some level of oversight and support, Sidama and South West Ethiopia regions have failed to allocate proper operational budgets.
- The South West Ethiopia region previously provided a one-time grant of 5 million birr and pledged 10 million birr for the current budget year, which remains undisbursed.
- Employees have experienced repeated delays in salary payments ranging from 45 to 50 days, along with unpaid salary adjustments mandated for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
- Critical broadcasting infrastructure, including cameras, radio antennas, UPS power units, and vehicles, has fallen into disrepair without necessary maintenance, crippling operational capacity.
- Essential employee benefits such as transport services, mobile allowances, and holiday bonuses have been completely discontinued.
- Workers have formed a ten-member coordinating committee and initiated social media campaigns to advocate for institutional survival and the settlement of overdue payments.
- Board Chairperson Hailemariam Tesfaye stated that he no longer holds legal authority as the council that appointed him is defunct, leaving the organization's fate to the regional governments and executive management.
- South West Ethiopia Regional President Fikre Aman stated that the four regions need to consult collectively regarding the organization's future, though no formal request has been formally addressed yet.
- Established in 2005, the organization currently operates eleven branch offices and broadcasts programs in 47 languages.
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