MONROVIA – The University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Associations (ULFASA) has condemned a recent directive from the Board of Trustees (BoT), dated June 19, 2024, mandating all faculty and staff to immediately resume work or face administrative action. In a press release issued today and signed by the ULFASA Secretariat, the leadership criticized the BoT for perpetuating a legacy of mismanagement and broken promises by the university administration.
ULFASA’s leadership emphasized that the BoT’s directive comes after a long period of mismanagement by the University of Liberia (UL) administration, which has repeatedly failed to improve staff and faculty welfare. The press release described the BoT’s stance as an attempt to maintain the status quo, granting the administration more time to exacerbate the already dire situation and further punish those who oppose them.
The association expressed profound disappointment that the BoT, an entity traditionally held in high regard, would issue threats to professionals, treating them as mere servants. This, ULFASA notes, mirrors the previous actions of the UL administration.
Reaffirming their stance, ULFASA has advised all faculty and staff to continue abstaining from administrative and academic activities until their demands are addressed. This decision was reinforced by the General Assembly, which remains active and resolute in its directive. The leadership has also stated that the Presidents of the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA) and the University of Liberia Staff Association (ULSA) will not participate in any activities of the proposed “search committee” for new university leadership.
ULFASA has assured its members that they will stand united and take all necessary measures to protect them from any retaliatory actions. They have reminded directors, deans, and chairpersons not to pressure any staff or faculty into violating this collective decision, emphasizing that the Executive Committee of ULFASA is prepared to take additional steps to ensure member safety.
This strike action, which began on June 14, 2024, was unanimously decided at a General Assembly meeting held at the University of Liberia’s main campus in Monrovia. It is a response to ongoing grievances, including delayed salary payments for part-time lecturers, poor working and learning conditions, and the administration’s failure to meet previously agreed-upon demands. ULFASA has also called for the resignation of UL President Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson and his administration, holding them accountable for the unresolved issues.
“The current situation is untenable,” stated a ULFASA representative during the assembly. “Our part-time lecturers have not received their salaries on time, the working and learning conditions are poor, and the administration has continuously failed to honor our agreements. We can no longer stand by while these issues persist.”
ULFASA has issued a stern warning to all lecturers to stay away from the university premises and has threatened action against any departments that defy this directive. This strike, coinciding with the students’ final exam period, could significantly impact their academic progress.
The faculty and staff’s frustration has reached a boiling point, leading to this drastic measure. ULFASA’s demands for better conditions and timely salary payments have been ongoing, but little progress has been made.
“The administration’s neglect of our demands is unacceptable,” said another ULFASA member. “We are committed to providing quality education, but we cannot do so under these conditions. It is time for Dr. Nelson and his administration to step down and make way for leadership that will prioritize the needs of both staff and students.”
The strike’s impact on the university community will be closely watched in the coming days, as students and staff await a response from the administration. The call for the resignation of Dr. Nelson and his administration marks a significant escalation in the ongoing disputes between ULFASA and the university’s leadership.
