FREETOWN – The Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone (USL), Professor Aiah Lebbie, has said the country’s premier university is starved of resources and is struggling to survive.
Prof. Lebbie made the disclosure on Tuesday, 23rd September 2026, at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), Tower Hill, during the launch of the IPAM Student and Staff Computer Loan Scheme and the commissioning of new digital facilities.
According to him, the university’s financial situation is so dire that student fees meant for development are now diverted to pay salaries.
“As a university, we charge the lowest fee, I must say in the world, except for those who don’t charge fees. But what you pay is not enough for me to even pay salaries,” he lamented.
Breaking down the crisis, the VC revealed that USL’s monthly wage bill stands at about Le 8.5 million, but government subvention covers only about Le 5 million – leaving a shortfall of Le 3.5 million every month.
“That is not what government pays. Government pays something about Le 5 million. If the wage bill is paid, I would be able to do a lot of transformation across the university. But it’s the fees the students pay that I have to repurpose to pay salaries; and so, I am starved of resources to achieve transformation,” he said.
The projects commissioned at IPAM include the Computer Loan Scheme spearheaded by ACTB Savings and Loans to help students and staff acquire laptops, an Africell CUG booth, and two newly constructed digital classrooms – all part of USL’s push towards digital transformation.
Prof. Lebbie said while his administration is committed to modernising Fourah Bay College, IPAM and COHMAS, the vision cannot be achieved without external support.
“Digital transformation in the University of Sierra Leone is not something that we are going to take lightly. And this is why I am asking all the stakeholders to come to our aid and assist us,” he appealed, specifically calling on USL alumni to give back.
“Whatever my DVC and his team are trying to achieve here is to lay the foundation for the next generation,” he added.
