January 21, 2021
BY: Mohamed Kargbo
The Government of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 19th January 2021 re-engaged the Academic Staff Association of the University of Sierra Leone constituting, Njala University, Poly-Techniques, and other public colleges at Fourah Bay College in the Western Rural District.
Vice President Juldeh representing the government of Sierra Leone made the passionate to the lecturers to reconsider their ongoing strike action over a range of welfare related demands.
“Today I want to make a passionate plea that we are in extra-ordinary times, and extra-ordinary times means scarifies,” says Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
He appealed to the Academic Staff Association and University Administrators to show understanding and go back to work whilst the engagement continues.
The Vice President said that they are going to establish a Framework for Engagement today and encouraged the lecturers and administrators to continue having faith in this Government for Capital Development.
The Vice President disclosed that Government has lost 1.5 trillion Leones due to the COVID-19, noting that with this big loss, “Government is constrained tot do a 100% salary increase this year.”
He added that government can however make 25% increment that will take effect April 2021.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh added that the welfare of lecturers, having a motivational workforce should not only be a concern of the Government but also University Administrators.
The Vice President disclosed that Government is about to finalize the Education Development Fund and that the President will appoint someone to manage, which will support the transformation of education and address issues of research as well.
Whilst adding his voice to the Government’s position, Dr. Turad Senesie, the Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, now the newly appointed Minister of Land, Housing and Country Planning said: “as we speak now the fiscal space is very tight.”
A representative of the Council of Vice-Chancellors and Principles, Professor Edwin Momoh believes that this meeting should be a platform to end strike actions among public universities. He called on all to make good use of this opportunity and avoid the blame-shifting game.
According to Dr. Williete James, the President of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) of the University of Sierra Leone, “in 2019 when I assumed office as President of ASA, we sent a proposal for the review of our condition of service owing to the inflationary trend to cope with the high cost of living. Our salary has not been reviewed since 2011.”
She said when the 2020 budget speech was read, their proposal was not considered, which compelled to resort to strike action, but then came COVID-19 and they were asked to stay action.
She revealed that during the break, they have been teaching students online and afterwards sent out series of reminders hoping that the 2021 budget will look into their proposals that was note addressed.
She said that, 17 of their colleagues with doctorate degrees have not been paid for over a year now. Their names are not in the Government Pay Roll, and there are lecturers who are sick, and most times they will have to raise funds for them.
She lamented that lecturers who have taught for over 12 years are still in the same situation to a point that lectures even board ‘Kekes’ and ‘Okadas’ to come and teach.
“A person I taught in the Special Certificate Course at the Mass Communication Department who did not even attempt the diploma class is earning twice my salary.” Dr. Williete James disclosed.
Comparing the sub-region, Dr. James said that, the University of Ghana and Liberia receive much more than them in Sierra Leone.
After the meeting, ASA still maintained their decision of continuing the strike.
During a radio interview with Dr. Williete James on the 20th January 2021 she said that, authorities are not treating them fairly because if education is the flagship program of this Government, at least they should have said something tangible in the meeting held on the 19th of January.
She pointed out that other sectors are benefiting from supplementary budgets in terms of salary increment but for them, nothing had been done which is why she said “We are going to continue with the strike action.”
According to the University of Sierra Leone Act, the salary of lecturers and administrators should be reviewed every three years.
