NUBBiH More than vanity: Director was negligent, employee committee asks him to retire

Employees of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in front of the institution’s building on Friday to demand the retirement of NUBBiH director Ismet Ovčina and handed him a decision to terminate his employment contract in accordance with the law, i.e., to meet the statutory retirement conditions.

No board

– The decision was ready, but it was impossible to stamp it, because the employee, allegedly, could not use the seal, as the director hid it. Given that NUBBiH has been without an administrative and supervisory board for many years, Ovchina is not an authorized person on the court register. The move by NUB employees to replace the director was supported and supported by state, federal and regional authorities, emphasizing that his unique stance of incompetent leadership, opaque and unethical work and attitude towards employees directly affected this institution. The statement of the NUBBiH Employees’ Council stated that the company was on the verge of collapse.

Let us remind you that at the meeting of relevant ministers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the KS, as well as the Prime Minister of the KS, Nihad Britain, with representatives of the National Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was pointed out that there is a lack of accurate information about the total amount of allocated funds, for what purposes, and how this leads to a situation where there is no money to pay employees’ salaries.

– The authorities have unequivocally pledged to provide all-round financial support to resolve the current situation and will advocate for the adoption of a special law at the level of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that will permanently resolve the financing issues, as long as the competent state agencies urgently address the management structure issues and appoint new administrative/supervisory boards and directors in all seven scientific and cultural institutions. They claim that they do not want to be held hostage by one man.

They had asked Ovchina on Monday to take over the retirement decision. Ovchina himself said he experienced puzzling and unfounded accusations.

– Under full moral responsibility, I claim that all the funds that flowed into the library were fully justified by the financiers and there is clear evidence to prove this. I emphasize that with the help of me and several colleagues, the library actively operated during my tenure, as can be seen from the final accounts submitted to the competent authorities. As for the question of retirement, I appealed to the authorities long ago to relieve me of my duties, but the authorities declared themselves incompetent. In addition, I have carried out a number of retirement-related activities in the past period, in accordance with the conditions of my pension, with the aim of retiring myself. Why is there no board of directors for seven important cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Ovchina claims that this is not to be blamed on Ishmet Ovchina, but on its founders (Ministry of Civil Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina).

System Solutions

Academician Mirko Pejanović did not pursue who was responsible for the situation at the library, but he called on all authorities to help the institution. NUBBiH is not an ordinary library, but a library of national importance.

– NUBBiH represents the cultural and historical development of the country and society. He claimed that in a normal country, the relevant ministers must find a systematic temporary solution for this institution, which is in the general interest of the country.