FREETOWN – The Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) has said the nationwide lecturers’ strike remains in full force, insisting that government has made no offer on its demand for a 100% salary increase.
In a press release issued on 24th October 2026, UASA gave an update on a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) held on 23rd October at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) Secretariat Conference Room.
According to UASA, although the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, the Deputy Minister, Permanent Secretary and Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer were absent, the Ministry was represented by Mr E. J. Momoh and a few other officials. Also in attendance were Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Registrars and Finance Directors of a few public universities, and the UASA Executive.
UASA said two key issues were discussed – the harmonized Conditions of Service and salary disparity.
On the Conditions of Service, the meeting resolved that the successfully harmonized documents will be forwarded to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for approval prior to implementation.
On salary disparity, MTHE representatives pledged to collaborate with Finance Directors of public universities to compile the relevant data and initiate the process. But UASA noted that the Ministry of Finance was conspicuously absent and no proposal was tabled in respect of the 100% salary increase demanded by lecturers.
“On the basis of the foregoing, UASA wishes to state as follows: 1. No offer has been presented by Government in relation to the demand by lecturers for a 100% increase in salary. 2. The industrial action instituted by UASA remains in full force,” the release stated.
The industrial action, which began in early October, has paralyzed academic activities across public universities including Fourah Bay College (FBC), Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), COMAHS, Njala University, Eastern Technical University, Ernest Bai Koroma University, and Milton Margai Technical University.
Lecturers are demanding a 100% salary increment, harmonization of conditions of service, and addressing wide salary disparities between and within public universities – issues they say have been outstanding for years despite several negotiations.
UASA said it remains open and committed to sincere and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders willing to resolve the impasse in the best interest of higher education in Sierra Leone.
The Union also appreciated the understanding of parents, students and the general public as the stalemate continues, with thousands of students currently out of lectures weeks into the 2025/2026 academic year.
