UASA Insists…
NO 100% PAY RISE, NO LECTURES
By Lamin Bangura
The Union of Academic Staff Associations of Sierra Leone (UASA) has reaffirmed its demand for a 100 per cent salary increase for lecturers in public tertiary institutions, insisting that lectures will not resume until Government presents a concrete proposal for negotiations.
In a statement issued on Friday, 30 October 2026, and signed by its Secretary-General, Abiodu Williams, UASA said it remained committed to dialogue with Government but expressed disappointment over the outcome of several engagements aimed at resolving the ongoing industrial action.
The union disclosed that it had participated in stakeholder meetings convened by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC), while also engaging the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Principals and the Ministry of Finance.
However, UASA said no concrete counter-proposal had been presented in response to its demand for a 100 per cent salary increase.
According to the union, the meeting held on 23 October 2026 at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) ended without any substantive salary offer, despite appeals for lecturers to return to their classrooms.
UASA identified inadequate remuneration, salary disparities across public tertiary institutions and unresolved conditions of service as the major issues underpinning its industrial action.
The union argued that existing salaries were insufficient to reflect the professional responsibilities and contributions of lecturers, who play a critical role in training Sierra Leone’s doctors, engineers, teachers and other professionals.
It also raised concerns over disparities in salaries among lecturers with similar qualifications and comparable responsibilities across public institutions, noting that although the anomaly had been acknowledged, it remained unresolved.
On conditions of service, UASA welcomed the harmonised Conditions of Service currently awaiting approval by the Tertiary Education Commission. However, it maintained that the proposed harmonisation could not replace the need for adequate and sustainable remuneration.
The union further emphasised that it remained willing to participate in good-faith negotiations but stressed that meaningful dialogue must be supported by clear, time-bound and implementable commitments from Government.
Consequently, UASA maintained that the resumption of lectures must be preceded by a concrete Government proposal addressing its 100 per cent salary increase demand, which it said should provide a meaningful basis for further negotiations.
While expressing regret over the disruption caused to students and parents by the ongoing industrial action, the union called on Government to intensify efforts towards finding a sustainable resolution in the interest of higher education in Sierra Leone.
