IPNEWS: Contrary to claims of witch hunt by a staff of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), of wrongful dismissal by the management of the LTA over refusal to support the former ruling party – Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during the 2023 presidential elections, an independent investigation by the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper has established that Nicholas A. Dennis, former probational staff was layoff due to ‘share incompetence’.
An IPNEWS investigation unearthed that Nicholas A. Dennis, was never hired by the LTA as Information Officer, as claimed in a statement carried by this Newspaper but was handed an ‘offer letter’, in accordance of the LTA’s Human Resources stands and not an employment as was protruded.
A Human Resources appraisal in the possession of IPNEWS established that Mr. Nicholas A. Dennis, ‘offer letter’ was withdrawn based on his incompetence to meet standards proscribed by the appraisal procedures and requirement contrary to an earlier acquisition that he was dismissed by the direct instructions of the Chairperson of LTA, Edwina Crump Zackpah over accusation of linking him to being a Partisan of the Unity Party.
A source within the Human Resource Department of LTA tells IPNEWS that the dismissal claims by Mr. Dennis was shameful in that he was on numerous occasions called into the Human Resources Department to ascertain what were the challenged faced due to under performances at the workplace, however, all the advice yielded no dividend.
IPNEWS further uncovered that Mr. Nicholas A. Dennis, recommendation for termination was done by his sectional head and not the Chairperson of LTA, Edwina Crump Zackpah, as claimed.
True to Dennis assertion of serving the LTA for three-month (June-August 2023) on probation period fall short of employment requirements at the LTA.
In response to Mr. Nicholas A. Dennis accusation of wrongful termination, the Chairperson of LTA, Edwina Crump Zackpah, expressed surprise at the accusation and narrates to the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, the LTA under her watch will uphold the independence of commission by been ill-political and wonders how such accusation emerge from Mr. Dennis who witness firsthand during his probational period that LTA is a technical work environment that upholds professionalism and less concentrated with politics.
“Let me say this for the record, I was never a part of the recommendation for termination of Mr. Nicholes A. Dennis. At no time do I get involve into Human Resource matters. As the team lead of the LTA, I was indeed briefed over the share incompetence of Mr. Dennis in the Department of Corporate Communication and has failed to pass the appraisal for determination for employment advancement as required by the LTA.”
“I am not an Executive of the CDC, neither do you see me actively involved in politics. I remain a professional and is focus on the digital transformation of Liberia’s telecommunication and not bother with flimsy accusations over share incompetence. What has that got to do with Edwina Crump Zackpah, directing his probation termination? LTA Chairperson, Edwina Crump Zackpah, questioned.
A clearly marked inscription at the foot of Mr. Dennis appraisal form clearly exonerates by Edwina Zackpah as the mastermind of Mr. Dennis contract termination as claimed.
The marked states: “the above recommendation is accepted.” in clear reference to upholding an earlier recommendation.
Earlier, Mr. Dennis willfully accused Madam Zackpah being layoff due to his refusal to support the CDC, and attend political rallies on the order of Madam Zackpah.
“My dismissal is a witch-hunt and was characterized by conflict of interest due to the fact that my performance was appraised by a single person (appraiser) who served as the Rater and Reviewer of my performance at the same time,” Dennis said.
Mr. Dennis claims that Madam Zackpah “planted people on him” to monitor his movements and activities on Facebook and other social media accounts in order to find anything relating to his support for Unity Party that could be used as a basis to dismiss him.
“I was cautioned by folks who she instructed to constantly monitor my activities and to find anything that she could use to have me dismissed. In fact, a day to my dismissal, I was called by an anonymous individual who told me that Chair Zackpah had confided in them that she was going to have me fired the next day, (October 16,2023) because I am a Unity Party Partisan. I can prove it.” Mr. Dennis narrates.
Contrary to those claims by Mr. Dennis, IPNEWS investigation established that the HR Department following recommendation by Mr. Dennis Department head not to extend his contract, sought further clarity with justification of Mr. Dennis not adhering to work orders as prescribed by his terms of reference, no show at work, among others. Investigation continues.
