The ongoing nationwide strike by academic staff in public universities and other tertiary institutions across Sierra Leone continues to disrupt academic activities, raising growing concerns about the future of higher education and the welfare of thousands of students. The industrial action, organized by the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA), began on 16 September 2026 following prolonged disagreements between lecturers and the Government over salaries, working conditions and the implementation of revised Conditions of Service.
The dispute has persisted despite several engagements involving the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, university authorities and other Government institutions. At the centre of the disagreement is UASA’s demand for a 100 per cent salary increase for academic staff, alongside the implementation of harmonized Conditions of Service covering the 2026–2028 period. The union initially demanded a 500 per cent salary increase but subsequently reduced its demand to 100 per cent in what appears to be an attempt to facilitate a negotiated settlement.
Before commencing the strike, UASA served a 21-day strike notice to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education on 13 August 2026. The union maintained that its decision followed approximately three years of engagements with relevant Government institutions, including the Ministries of Technical and Higher Education and Finance, the Tertiary Education Commission, the Wages and Compensation Commission and the Office of the Chief Minister. However, according to the union, those engagements failed to produce satisfactory commitments on lecturers’ remuneration and welfare.
Apart from the proposed salary increase, UASA wants the Government to implement revised Conditions of Service covering salaries and allowances, promotions, medical benefits, annual leave, housing and other employment-related entitlements. The union has also expressed concern over salary disparities among academic staff working in different public tertiary institutions, insisting that such inconsistencies should be addressed.
The Government, however, has defended its record on salary adjustments, arguing that any additional increase must be considered against the country’s financial capacity. According to the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, the Government approved a 75 per cent salary increase in 2021, implemented in three instalments, which the Ministry says amounted to approximately 87.5 per cent on a compounded basis. A further 15 per cent increase was implemented in April 2025. The Minister also disclosed that the Government currently contributes approximately 83 per cent of university staff salaries and leave allowances, with the institutions providing the remaining 17 per cent.
In an apparent effort to break the deadlock, UASA proposed that its 100 per cent salary demand be implemented in three phases, beginning with a 40 per cent increase in November 2026, followed by 30 per cent in May 2027 and another 30 per cent in September 2027. The proposal was discussed during engagements with Government representatives on 16 October, but the union maintained that it required a formal written commitment from the relevant authorities, particularly the Ministry of Finance, before suspending the strike.
Another meeting, held on 23 October at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences Secretariat Conference Room, resulted in an agreement that the harmonized Conditions of Service should be forwarded to the Tertiary Education Commission for approval. Government representatives also promised to work with university Finance Directors to examine salary disparities. However, UASA expressed disappointment over the absence of the Ministry of Finance and the failure of the Government to present a concrete proposal on the salary increase. The union subsequently reaffirmed that the industrial action remained in force.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education declared the strike unlawful on 9 October, citing provisions of the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024. The Ministry questioned whether UASA had fulfilled the statutory requirements for collective bargaining and lawful industrial action. However, the Government’s position has not brought the dispute to an end, as the union has maintained its decision to withdraw academic services.
The consequences are increasingly being felt by students, with lectures suspended, examinations postponed, research activities disrupted and graduation schedules placed in uncertainty. On 27 October, the National Union of Sierra Leone Students appealed to both the Government and UASA to urgently resolve the disagreement, warning that students should not continue to suffer because of a dispute they did not initiate.
With public universities still facing uncertainty, the need for a lasting settlement has become increasingly urgent. The Government must demonstrate its willingness to address the legitimate welfare concerns of academic staff, while UASA must also recognize the wider consequences of prolonged industrial action. Ultimately, thousands of students and their families are bearing the burden of the disagreement. A negotiated written agreement, clearly outlining salary adjustments, implementation timelines and the revised Conditions of Service, remains the most practical way forward.
