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Academic staff across public tertiary institutions in Sierra Leone have officially shut down academic operations, embarking on a nationwide industrial action that began at midnight on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The declaration follows the expiration of a 21-day strike notice served to the Government on August 13 by the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA).
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 15, UASA Secretary-General Abiodu Williams confirmed that despite engagements during the notice period, negotiations failed to produce a concrete resolution.
ASA said it engaged the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), the Conference of Vice Chancellors and Principals (CVCP), and the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC) during the notice period. However, the union said no concrete agreement had been reached on its two principal demands: the immediate implementation of the reviewed Conditions of Service for academic staff of public tertiary institutions and Government’s consideration of a 100% salary increment for academic staff.
Consequently, UASA has directed all academic staff in public tertiary institutions to withdraw their services from 00:00 hours on Wednesday, 16 September, until further notice. The union has also instructed its branch executives to communicate the directive to members and ensure compliance with the resolution.
UASA said the industrial action is intended to address concerns over the welfare, remuneration and working conditions of academic staff, while maintaining that it remains open to further negotiations.
Sierra Leone’s Employment Act, 2023 recognises lawful industrial action and provides protections for workers participating in lawful strikes, subject to applicable legal requirements.