Education Minister Urges Dialogue as University Lecturers Strike
Lecturers at public tertiary institutions have launched an indefinite strike over compensation and working conditions, prompting Sierra Leone's Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Haja Ramatulai Wurie, to issue an urgent appeal for academic staff to return to the negotiating table.
Organized by the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA), the industrial action has left thousands of students facing academic uncertainty. The union initiated the walkout following unsuccessful talks with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), the Conference of Vice Chancellors and Principals, and the Wages and Compensation Commission.
At the heart of the dispute is UASA's demand for improved service conditions, headlined by a 100 percent salary increase for academic staff across public higher education institutions.
In a statement addressing the strike, Minister Wurie acknowledged the crucial role lecturers play in national human capital development and expressed empathy for their concerns. However, she raised concern over the decision to commence industrial action before ongoing talks with government representatives had concluded.
Wurie emphasized previous financial adjustments made to support academic personnel, citing a 75 percent salary increase in 2021—which was delivered in three installments and compounded to roughly 87 percent—alongside an additional 15 percent pay raise implemented in 2025.
According to the minister, the government currently covers approximately 83 percent of lecturers' total salaries, including timely disbursements of leave allowances. She stressed that any further salary revisions must be balanced against national budgetary limits to guarantee sustainable fulfillment.
Reaffirming the government's willingness to review union demands and reach a resolution through constructive dialogue, authorities scheduled a key mediation meeting between the ministry, relevant governing bodies, and UASA leadership for September 17, 2026.
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