FREETOWN, 9th October 2026 – The Government of Sierra Leone has ordered all academic staff in public tertiary institutions to report for duty and resume teaching when universities reopen on Monday, 12th October 2026.
The directive was contained in a press release issued today by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), as the nationwide strike by university lecturers enters its fourth week.
The Ministry said with public universities scheduled to reopen on Monday, academic staff are expected to return to their duty posts.
“The Ministry’s door remains open to constructive engagement, and Government remains committed to achieving a fair, lawful and fiscally sustainable resolution that protects the interests of lecturers, safeguards students’ education and strengthens Sierra Leone’s higher education system,” the release stated.
The order comes after the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) declared an indefinite strike on 16th September 2026 over conditions of service, demanding a 100% salary increase.
Government says the strike is unlawful.
According to the Ministry, negotiations were still ongoing at the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC) when the strike was called, in violation of Section 63(3) of the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024, which bars parties from striking while negotiations are in progress.
Government also questioned the legal status of UASA itself, stating that the union has not been issued a bargaining certificate and is only registered as a corporate entity with the National Investment Board. It noted that the Universities Act, 2021 recognizes Academic Staff Associations (ASA) at university level, but does not recognize UASA as a bargaining body.
The Ministry defended its record on lecturers’ welfare, stating that under President Julius Maada Bio, Government has implemented a cumulative 87.5% salary increase for university staff, plus an additional 15% approved effective April 2025, and now finances 83% of all university staff salaries and leave allowances.
Public universities including Fourah Bay College, IPAM, Njala University, Milton Margai Technical University and Ernest Bai Koroma University have been largely shut since mid-September, leaving thousands of students stranded.
It is not yet clear whether UASA will comply with the return-to-work order.
