As Lecturers Continue Strike Action… University Students Bear The Consequences

The Academic Staff Association of the University of Sierra Leone (ASA-USL) has reaffirmed its decision to continue industrial strike action, insisting that the Government must address its demands for a 100 per cent salary increase and approval of the revised Conditions of Service before academic activities can fully resume.

The decision, reached during a general membership meeting on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at the Tunde Cole Building, Fourah Bay College, underscores the deepening disagreement between academic staff and the Government over salaries, working conditions and the future of public tertiary education in Sierra Leone.

The Association’s position raises fresh concerns about the impact of the prolonged industrial dispute on students, parents and the wider education sector, particularly at a time when access to quality university education remains critical to the country’s human capital development.

In a statement signed by its President, Desmond Songo-Davies, ASA-USL reaffirmed its recognition of the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) as the legitimate body responsible for negotiating on behalf of academic staff. Members also endorsed UASA’s continued involvement in efforts to resolve the dispute.

However, the Association made it clear that any decision to suspend or call off the strike must be subjected to consultation and approval by the general membership plenary. The position suggests that any agreement reached at the negotiating table without the confidence of the membership could face resistance, potentially complicating efforts to restore normal academic activities.

The Government now faces renewed pressure to demonstrate its commitment to improving the welfare of university lecturers, while protecting the interests of students whose education is being disrupted by the industrial action.

Although a 100 per cent salary increase represents a significant financial demand, the Government cannot afford to treat the dispute merely as a contest over remuneration. The revised Conditions of Service are equally important, because they concern the framework governing the professional welfare, rights and responsibilities of academic staff.

The central question is whether the Government is prepared to provide a credible and transparent pathway towards resolving these concerns or allow the disagreement to continue at the expense of university education.

A written commitment could provide a basis for negotiations, but its value would depend on clear timelines, specific obligations and a credible mechanism for implementation. Without these safeguards, assurances could do little to restore confidence among lecturers who believe their concerns have not been adequately addressed.

For its part, ASA-USL has called on UASA to intensify engagements with relevant stakeholders and authorities to secure an amicable conclusion to the dispute. The Association has also reiterated its willingness to participate in genuine and constructive dialogue.

Its membership comprises academic staff from Fourah Bay College (FBC), the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), institutions that contribute significantly to Sierra Leone’s production of professionals across various fields.

Beyond the negotiations, students remain among the most vulnerable parties in the dispute. Prolonged interruptions to lectures, examinations and academic calendars can create uncertainty, increase financial pressure on families and delay graduation for students preparing to enter the labour market.

The consequences could extend beyond individual students, affecting employers, professional training pipelines and public confidence in the country’s university system.

Nevertheless, resolving the strike cannot depend solely on pressure from students or the public. Sustainable peace requires meaningful engagement between the Government and academic staff, supported by commitments that both parties can defend and implement.

ASA-USL has maintained that it remains committed to a peaceful resolution through genuine dialogue and has urged all parties to engage constructively in the interest of academic staff and public tertiary education.

The challenge now is whether the Government and UASA can translate negotiations into a credible agreement that addresses the lecturers’ concerns without leaving students to bear the consequences of an unresolved dispute.

Until that happens, the prospect of a return to normal academic activities at the University of Sierra Leone remains uncertain.