“We have resolved to withhold our services if these requests are not addressed. We have used diplomacy to the University authorities and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education to put on hold the implementation of the new criteria for promotions until the enabling environment is created for staff to work towards their promotions.
The ministry acknowledged our request and wrote a letter urging the Universities to put on hold the implementation of the new criteria until October 24th. However some Universities have gone ahead against the appeals and concerns to unduly disadvantaged our colleagues to stifle their promotions,” Presidents of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) of Njala University, Fourah Bay College, Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, Milton Margai Technical University, Eastern Technical University and Freetown Polytechnic and Dr. Brima Gegbe (UASA President) said in position paper addressed to the Minister of Technical and Higher Education dated August 9th 2023.
They said the government negotiated and prevailed to take over the emoluments of tertiary institutions for two year which was subject to be reviewed. They said the take over was 90%, leaving 20% of allowances on the Universities to pay their staff and the remaining staff who were not taken on Accountant General’s payroll. This they said has left huge burden on the Universities to pay the remaining staff allowances and the outstanding staff. They said the problem have been compounded by the failure of government to pay the grant in aid while subventions to Universities are not forthcoming.
“As Academic staff, we are gravely affected by these problems as the University authorities are not able to pay our colleagues and allowances in/on time. We have resolved that either the Ministry of Finance takes over all the salaries of the University staff or hand over funds for payment to the Universities for all the staff,” ASA Presidents states.
They disclosed that since 2021, rent allowances have not been paid by government and staff promoted since 2019 are to be paid their new salaries.