Freetown, 7th November, 2026 — The Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) has suspended its nationwide strike with immediate effect following intervention by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
The decision was announced in a press release dated 6th November, 2026, signed by UASA Secretary-General, Abiodu Williams.
According to the release, UASA expressed gratitude to the Vice President for his “timely mediation” in the prolonged industrial dispute between university lecturers and the Government of Sierra Leone.
The union said it was responding to a plea by the Vice President for lecturers to suspend the industrial action and return to work while awaiting a formally signed agreement from the Ministry of Finance.
UASA said it convened plenary meetings across its constituent associations — which include lecturers at Fourah Bay College, IPAM, Njala University, Milton Margai Technical University, Ernest Bai Koroma University and other public universities — and the general membership agreed to suspend the strike.
“Out of profound respect for the Honourable Vice President, UASA has decided to suspend the ongoing strike action with immediate effect,” the statement said.
UASA’s Demands Still on Table
While suspending the strike, UASA outlined four key expectations to consolidate the progress:
1. A joint meeting with the Vice President, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) where a written agreement will be duly signed, clearly stating the accepted percentage salary increase and timelines for implementation;
2. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to expedite approval of the Harmonized Conditions of Service and make copies available to UASA;
3. The Ministry of Finance to involve UASA in the computation of figures relating to the agreed percentage salary increase to ensure transparency.
The lecturers have been on strike for weeks over salary adjustments and poor conditions of service, a move that halted lectures, exams and academic activities in all public universities and left tens of thousands of students stranded.
The suspension is expected to see teaching resume next week, while negotiations continue.
The Office of the Vice President is yet to issue an official statement, but the development is seen as a major breakthrough in restoring normalcy to Sierra Leone’s higher education sector, which has suffered repeated disruptions due to unresolved welfare issues for academic staff.
