Lecturers at public universities and colleges across Sierra Leone have started a nationwide strike from midnight on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.
The Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) made the announcement on Tuesday, 15 September. Secretary-General Abiodu Williams said the 21-day strike notice they gave government on 13 August ran out without any real agreement.
During that notice period, the union met with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, the Conference of Vice Chancellors and Principals, and the Wages and Compensation Commission. They tried to settle the matter through talks.
But nothing solid came out of it. The lecturers are still waiting for two main things: government to start using the new Conditions of Service that were already reviewed for academic staff in public tertiary institutions, and serious consideration of a 100% salary increase.
So UASA has told all academic staff in public tertiary institutions to stop work from midnight on 16 September until further notice. Branch leaders have been asked to pass the message to their members and make sure everyone follows it.
The union says the strike is about improving the welfare, pay and working conditions of lecturers.
They also stressed that they are still ready to talk if government comes back to the table.
This follows months of engagement that the union says produced no clear answers. Under Sierra Leone’s Employment Act of 2023, workers have the right to take lawful industrial action as long as the proper steps are followed.
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