Government Declares University Lecturers’ Strike Unlawful, Orders Return to Work
Kanja Sesay The Government of Sierra Leone has declared the ongoing industrial action by academic staff in public universities unlawful, citing provisions of the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024, and called on lecturers to resume their duties as negotiations over their demands continue.
In a press release dated October 9, 2026, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) said academic staff were expected to return to work ahead of the scheduled reopening of public universities on Monday, October 12.
The ministry acknowledged concerns raised by the Academic Staff Association (ASA) but maintained that the government remained committed to resolving outstanding issues through dialogue, transparency and established legal procedures.
According to the statement, the government has implemented a 75 per cent salary increase in three instalments. When compounded, the ministry said, the increases amounted to approximately 87.5 per cent. It added that a further 15 per cent salary increase for tertiary education staff took effect in April 2025.
The government also said it had assumed responsibility for approximately 83 per cent of university staff salaries and annual leave allowances since July 2019, with payments made on time.
The ministry explained that the ASA submitted a demand for a 100 per cent salary increase in June and July 2026. Given the government’s existing financial commitments, the ministry advised that the salary component should be assessed by the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC).
The WCC subsequently submitted its assessment of the financial implications to the Ministry of Finance on September 11, 2026. The ministry said negotiations on salaries and conditions of service were still ongoing when the strike began on September 16.
The government also questioned the authority under which the Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) issued the strike notice, arguing that the union had not been issued the required bargaining certificate.
Citing Sections 63(3) and 63(4) of the Industrial Relations and Trade Union Act, 2024, the ministry said parties to an industrial dispute must not resort to strike action while negotiations or mediation remain in progress. It further stated that an aggrieved unionised employee intending to strike must channel the decision through the secretary-general of a registered trade union holding a bargaining certificate.
The ministry maintained that UASA’s registration as a corporate entity with the National Investment Board did not, in itself, establish its status as a trade union with the legal authority to bargain collectively. It also noted that the Universities Act, 2021, recognises ASA within university governance structures but does not identify UASA as such a body.
The government said its position was based on statutory requirements and the fact that negotiations had not been concluded. However, it stressed that this did not diminish academic staff’s right to raise legitimate concerns or the government’s willingness to address them through dialogue.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to finding a fair, lawful and financially sustainable resolution that protects lecturers’ interests, safeguards students’ education and strengthens Sierra Leone’s higher education system.
