The union representing employees of the Narodna biblioteka “Stevan Samardžić” in Pljevlja has called for the immediate resignation of director Bojana Đačić and council president Milutin Petrović. This demand follows a report from the budget inspection that revealed illegal payments exceeding €13,000 to Đačić, as well as unauthorized salary reductions of up to 30 percent for employees.
The findings, detailed in an inspection report dated March 2024, highlight serious legal violations within the library’s management. The report states that between March and December 2024, Đačić received a total salary of €13,061.10 without any lawful basis. The inspection revealed that the library failed to provide evidence of a valid employment contract for Đačić during this period, raising questions about the legality of her salary.
In a public statement, the library union expressed its obligation to inform the local council and other stakeholders, urging them to take action against both Đačić and Petrović promptly. The union emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “We feel compelled to publicly call on the members of the Pljevlja Assembly and all political and social actors to respond without delay.”
The inspection report also noted that the library had not been issuing salary resolutions for its employees, which contravenes the Law on Salaries of Public Sector Employees. As a result, the library’s management conducted salary calculations without legal grounds, according to the union’s statement.
The director was initially appointed in April 2024, and her status was confirmed as acting director on December 14, 2024. The union highlighted that Đačić did not formalize her employment contract until after the inspection’s intervention. This raises significant concerns about the validity of her rights and obligations during the preceding eight months.
In addition to the illegal salary payments, the budget inspection found that Đačić had unlawfully reduced the salaries of some employees by 30 percent. These reductions were characterized as “penalties” and were extended beyond the legally permissible duration.
To ensure transparency, the union has made the inspection report available to the public. They indicated that they had previously submitted a criminal complaint to the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office in Pljevlja in late 2024, which was dismissed without any known follow-up actions or investigations.
The union plans to file new criminal complaints against Đačić, Petrović, former council president Nemanja Stanimirović, municipal secretary Sanja Đondović, and other individuals involved in the unlawful salary calculations.
In response to the allegations, Bojana Đačić stated in a phone conversation with a local media outlet that the union’s claims were false. She expressed her frustration with having to repeatedly deny the accusations and announced her intention to pursue legal action against the union’s allegations. “That is not true, but I am tired of denying it. From now on, I will respond only through a lawsuit,” Đačić said.
She further cautioned the media regarding their reporting, particularly addressing the local publication Pobjeda. “You should be careful with what you write, especially you from Pobjeda,” she concluded before ending the call.
The situation at the Narodna biblioteka has raised significant concerns about governance and accountability within public institutions in Montenegro, prompting demands for greater oversight and transparency.
