Freetown, 9th October 2026 – The Government of Sierra Leone has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving disputes with university lecturers through dialogue, while calling on academic staff at public tertiary institutions to suspend their industrial action and resume duties ahead of the reopening of universities on October 12.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) said it recognizes the concerns raised by lecturers but maintained that discussions on salaries and conditions of service were already underway when the strike began on September 16.
The ministry highlighted what it described as significant investments in lecturers’ welfare under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration, noting that academic staff have benefited from a cumulative salary increase of about 87.5 percent through three phased adjustments, followed by an additional 15 percent increase effective April 2025.
Government also said it has been covering salaries and annual leave allowances for staff in public tertiary institutions since 2019, currently financing approximately 83 percent of university wage bills and ensuring timely payments.
According to the ministry, concerns over lecturers’ conditions of service were referred to the respective university governing bodies for negotiation and harmonization in line with established procedures. It added that when the Academic Staff Associations (ASAs) later requested a 100 percent salary increase, Government advised that the matter be submitted to the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC) for assessment and negotiation as required by law.
The WCC reportedly submitted its assessment of the financial implications of the salary proposal to the Ministry of Finance on September 11, with negotiations still ongoing when lecturers commenced the strike five days later.
The ministry also questioned the legality of the industrial action, arguing that the strike was declared under the umbrella of the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) despite ongoing negotiations and unresolved issues regarding the body’s authority to initiate industrial action.
Citing provisions of the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024, MTHE stated that strikes are prohibited while mediation or negotiations are in progress and must be initiated through a registered trade union possessing a valid bargaining certificate.
Government contends that UASA has not been granted such certification and that its registration as a corporate entity does not confer trade union status or collective bargaining rights under Sierra Leone’s labour laws. The ministry further noted that while the Universities Act, 2021 recognizes Academic Staff Associations within university governance structures, it does not formally recognize UASA.
Based on these considerations, Government said it views the ongoing strike as unlawful, while emphasizing that its position does not diminish lecturers’ right to pursue legitimate grievances.
With public universities set to reopen on Monday, the ministry urged lecturers to return to classrooms and resume academic activities, assuring staff that Government remains open to constructive engagement.
“The Ministry’s door remains open to constructive engagement,” the statement said, adding that efforts would continue toward a solution that is fair, lawful and fiscally sustainable while protecting lecturers’ interests and safeguarding students’ education.
