MONROVIA – The University of Liberia (UL) authorities have appealed for dialogue with faculty members as the institution faces a strike over unresolved welfare concerns, urging cooperation and sacrifice while students await the resumption of classes. The call comes after the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA) announced a suspension of all academic activities across UL campuses following an Emergency General Assembly held on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the Capitol Hill campus.
According to a press statement issued by the ULFA Secretariat, the decision to halt academic activities was prompted by a series of unresolved issues affecting the welfare of faculty members, despite earlier engagements with university authorities and other stakeholders. The statement referenced a constitutional General Assembly held on July 18, 2025, which mandated the ULFA Executive Committee to engage the university administration within one month on pressing matters.
Among the concerns highlighted were poor sanitary conditions on campuses, delays in faculty promotions, salary disparities, social security contributions, issues affecting faculty on study leave, and the need for renovation of UL facilities. ULFA also cited more recent grievances, including outstanding payments for overload and vacation school salaries that remain unsettled.
During Friday’s Emergency General Assembly, faculty members voted unanimously to disengage from all academic activities until their concerns are addressed through a formal agreement with the UL administration and the Government of Liberia. “Due to these unresolved outstanding issues, the faculty voted unanimously at today’s emergency general assembly to stay away from all academic activities until a negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement addressing all ULFA issues is signed by the University of Liberia Administration, the Government of Liberia, and ULFA,” the statement read.
ULFA emphasized that faculty members are to refrain from participating in any planned academic activities until further notice. Classes and other related programs will only resume once a fair agreement is reached addressing all of ULFA’s concerns. The association underscored that salary disparities, payment of adjunct faculty arrears, unresolved promotion matters, and the condition of campus facilities remain critical issues that must be settled before the suspension is lifted.
The association maintained that the welfare of faculty members cannot be compromised and reiterated that disengagement will continue until the administration and government take decisive action to resolve the outstanding matters.
