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The Parliament of Sierra Leone has lifted its earlier moratorium on actions related to the impasse between the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), paving the way for investigations into the matter to continue.
In a directive referencing a memorandum dated 21 November 2025, Parliament confirmed that its Committee had initially ordered all actions connected to the dispute to be put on hold. However, the Committee has now instructed that the suspension be lifted and all relevant parties informed, thereby allowing investigations to proceed.
The parliamentary directive comes amid disciplinary action taken by the leadership of the Tertiary Education Commission against some of its staff over alleged misconduct.
In a separate internal communication addressed to all TEC staff, the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission announced the suspension of named staff members for alleged acts of insubordination and misconduct. According to the letter, the action followed a directive from the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, contained in a letter dated 12 November 2025 from the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.
The Ministry reportedly raised concerns over incidents of insubordination, insolent behaviour, and unprofessional conduct allegedly exhibited by TEC staff towards the Minister of Technical and Higher Education and other senior ministry officials during an official engagement at the MTHE main conference hall in New England.
The affected staff were issued query letters and asked to submit written explanations within two days, addressing their conduct, alleged disrespect towards constituted authority, and reasons why disciplinary action, including suspension pending investigation, should not be taken against them. The deadline for submission of responses was 27 November 2025.
According to the TEC Chairman, no written responses were received from any of the staff within the stipulated period. As a result, and citing the seriousness of the allegations and the collective failure to comply with official directives, the Commission proceeded with administrative action.
The letter stated that the affected staff have been suspended on half salaries with immediate effect, pending the conclusion of further investigations, as well as administrative and disciplinary processes. The staff were urged to treat the matter with “the utmost seriousness and urgency,” with assurances that further communication would follow.
The Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance was also copied in the correspondence for appropriate action.
With Parliament now lifting its moratorium, the Executive Secretary and other staff have been placed on suspension, and investigations into the dispute between the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and the Tertiary Education Commission are expected to continue as stakeholders await further developments and official outcomes.
