In a significant development, the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) has on 18 November 2023 issued a joint Twenty-One Day Withholding Services Notice to the public university authorities in Sierra Leone.

According to them, despite ongoing discussions with key entities such as the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour, Tertiary Education Commission, Conference of Vice-Chancellors and Principles, and the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Higher Education, unresolved welfare concerns persist.

They noted that promises have been made to address certain demands related to the payment of promoted staff and severance benefits. However, critical issues affecting staff members, including the issuance of appointment letters and salary upgrades for Technical Universities and the Freetown Polytechnic, immediate implementation of the 2022-2024 Conditions of Service, review of the status of Research and Teaching Assistants, and payment of allowances at Milton Margai Technical University, remain unaddressed.

The Union emphasizes the non-payment of internal allowances to staff members of Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology and Milton Margai Technical University for the past five months, causing untold suffering among colleagues.

With no positive action taken by the concerned authorities despite numerous engagements, UASA has declared a Twenty-One-Day Withholding Services Notice, effective immediately.

The Union intends to proceed with a withholding services action a day after the expiration of this ultimatum.

This development raises concerns about the potential impact on the functioning of these educational institutions and underscores the urgency for a resolution to the ongoing disputes.

Tags: Government of Sierra Leone Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA)