"No Pay, No Work": University of Liberia Faculty Demand Action Amid Crisis

Published: June 16, 2024

MONROVIA – The University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA) has ceased all teaching activities, citing unpaid salaries for part-time lecturers and deplorable working conditions. The decision came during a unanimous vote at a General Assembly held over the weekend at the university’s Capitol Hill Main Campus in Monrovia.

Report by Bamo N. Toe, Staff Writer

The faculty and staff have vowed not to return to the classroom until their grievances are addressed and the current university management, led by President Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson, steps down. ULFASA President Dr. Edna Johnny stated that repeated discussions with the administration have failed to yield any solutions.

“We have reached a point where we can go no further,” Dr. Johnny said. “It is incumbent upon us as your leaders to alert you, and we will uphold the decisions you make.”

***The decision came during a unanimous vote at a General Assembly held over the weekend at the university’s Capitol Hill Main Campus in Monrovia.***

Among the numerous issues, Dr. Johnny highlighted the prolonged non-payment of part-time lecturers, inadequate transportation for staff, and poor infrastructure, including the lack of ceiling tiles and proper sanitary facilities at the Fendell Campus. She also noted the unsafe working conditions, exacerbated by students’ protests which often turn violent.

“The administration has generated millions of dollars, yet students lack basic amenities like chairs, and faculty members are without essential teaching materials,” Dr. Johnny added. “We deserve better treatment.”

Secretary General Eric T. S. Patten echoed these sentiments, criticizing the belated distribution of contracts to part-time lecturers. “I’m tired of the entire management team. Let Sarwolo Nelson and his team go,” he declared.

As the search for a new university president continues, Patten emphasized the need for a candidate from within the institution, who understands the unique challenges faced by the faculty and staff. “Liberia politically voted on a rescue mandate; the University cannot be left out,” he noted, advocating for a leadership that aligns with the national agenda for improvement.