Nepotism and Clientelism Spark Discontent at Algeria’s Broadcasting Authority (TDA)
Anger is simmering both at the central and regional offices of Algeria’s Broadcasting Authority (TDA). Numerous violations have been reported across all levels of this organization, which is exclusively responsible for broadcasting and transmitting programs for public service companies as well as for organizations authorized to use the public domain in Algeria and abroad.
Algiers: Special Correspondence
The perpetrators of these violations include Mr. Rachid Bestam, the Director-General, and several executives within his circle.
Mr. Rachid Bestam has recruited approximately 400 employees, consisting of the relatives of military officers, governors, heads of municipalities, central and regional directors of the TDA, and officials from supervisory bodies, without following proper recruitment procedures (such as going through the National Employment Agency (ANEM) or publishing recruitment notices in newspapers). Most of these employees are paid for doing nothing! Additionally, this manager has taken retaliatory measures against several TDA executives who expressed their dissatisfaction by demoting them or transferring them to other regional offices far from their homes, with the knowledge of the Director of Human Resources, the Secretary-General of the National Union, and the Chairman of the Participation Committee (CP).
For his part, Zoubir Yahiaoui, the Central Director at TDA in charge of product and service promotion (DPPS), has employed his three sons within the TDA, along with several relatives of members of the Sectoral Tender Committee (CSM). In return, these members turn a blind eye to any irregularities they might find when reviewing the TDA’s tender documents.
Abdelmalek Hoggas, in charge of security at TDA, after hiring his sons within the TDA, one of whom is currently accused of attempted rape, transferred this son to a transmitter center in the east of the country to facilitate his escape from legal prosecution (with the complicity of the Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Adila Benlaalam, and the Director-General). Furthermore, Abdelmalek has been granted a service residence at the TDA headquarters, despite not needing it. This residence now serves as a hideout for his fugitive son.
Abdelmalek Meraouna, the Chairman of the Participation Committee (CP), a company chauffeur, and supposed to be elected by employees to manage the social welfare funds of employees, has received a service residence at the TDA headquarters in Bouzareah (although he works at the Setif transmitter center). He has also benefited from employing some of his relatives and from an overseas assignment. To top it off, he has been promoted to a position that allows him to receive a massive salary, approaching 1.5 million dinars.
Rachid Djebbari, the Secretary-General of the company’s National Union, has not called any general meetings to discuss potential employee problems with the administration since he was elected by TDA employees in 2022 (with the complicity of Mrs. Benlaalam and Mr. Bestam), despite labor laws requiring a general meeting every three months.
Some employees enjoy unearned privileges. The most blatant cases include:
Salim Alim: Benefited from an illegal promotion and has been receiving his salary for months despite frequently being absent. Moreover, he has a pending case in court for embezzling large sums from the social welfare funds.
Abdesselem Lardjane: Known as the administration’s informant at TDA. He is rewarded each time by having his relatives employed, including one of his sons who was recently hired while still pursuing university studies.
Nicknamed “Gnina,” a security officer who has become Bestam’s right-hand man, plays the role of a “firefighter” by stifling any socio-professional claims in exchange for benefiting from illegal promotions.