By Joseph Momoh D.S
FREETOWN — The nationwide strike by university lecturers remains in full force after government failed to make any offer on their demand for a 100 per cent salary increase, the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) has announced.
In a press release issued after a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), UASA said the industrial action will continue until government shows commitment to address their grievances.
According to the union, the meeting was held on 23rd October 2026 at the COMAHS Secretariat Conference Room in Freetown.
UASA disclosed that the Minister, Deputy Minister, Permanent Secretary and the Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer of MTHE were all absent from the meeting. The Ministry was represented by Mr. E. J. Momoh and a few other officials.
The meeting was also attended by Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Registrars and Finance Directors of some public universities, as well as members of the UASA National Executive.
One of the resolutions reached at the meeting, according to UASA, was that the successfully harmonised Conditions of Service documents should be forwarded to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for approval before implementation.
On the contentious issue of salary disparities among public universities, the union said representatives of MTHE pledged to collaborate with Finance Directors of the universities to compile the necessary data and initiate steps to address the anomaly.
However, UASA said the meeting ended without any proposal or counter-offer from government regarding its core demand for a 100 per cent salary increase, which the union says is a prerequisite for meaningful dialogue.
The union also noted with concern that the Ministry of Finance – a key stakeholder in salary negotiations – was absent from the meeting.
“In view of these developments, the Government has not made any offer concerning lecturers’ demand for a 100 per cent salary increase,” UASA stated, insisting that its industrial action remains in full force.
Despite the deadlock, the union reaffirmed its willingness to engage in sincere, meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with all stakeholders committed to finding a lasting solution in the best interest of higher education in Sierra Leone.
UASA concluded by thanking parents, students and the general public for their understanding and patience during the industrial action.
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