All public universities and polytechnics in Sierra Leone will remain closed indefinitely after academic staff rejected the government’s current approach to negotiations.
The Union of Academic Staff Associations (UASA) has resolved to maintain its industrial action across the country, saying it will not return to lecture halls until government negotiates directly with its national leadership and shows satisfactory progress on pay.
The decision was taken on Monday 29th September 2026 at a meeting of Presidents and Secretaries of UASA’s seven constituent associations at EBKUST, Port Loko.
The government, through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), had directed individual institutions to engage their own academic staff associations between 23rd and 27th September.
UASA says that strategy failed.
According to the Union, the institution-by-institution engagements were an attempt to divide the Union and bypass collective bargaining. It also alleges that some of its representatives faced intimidation and pressure when they tried to present the Union’s position at those campus meetings.
“The action will remain in force until satisfactory progress is made,” UASA said in its resolution.
UASA also dismissed claims that it refused to attend a stakeholders’ meeting convened by MTHE on 17th September. The Union says it only asked for a postponement due to short notice and travel difficulties for members coming from the provinces, but the Ministry never responded.
UASA has two non-negotiable demands:
1. 100% salary increase for all academic staff in public tertiary institutions.
2. Immediate implementation of the 2026–2028 Harmonised Conditions of Service in all institutions where it has not yet been implemented.
The Union is now asking the government to give a public update on what the Wages and Compensation Commission has communicated to the Ministry of Finance about the 100% increase.
For students at Fourah Bay College (FBC), IPAM, COMAHS, Njala, EBKUST, Eastern Technical University and Milton Margai Technical University, it means more time at home.
Classes have been suspended since the industrial action began, following a notice that government met university leaders over but failed to resolve.
The closure comes as university authorities themselves admit the system is broke. The Vice Chancellor of USL recently stated that “Student Fees Not Enough To Pay Salaries,” pointing to a deeper funding crisis in higher education.
UASA says it is still open to negotiations, but only if government stops talking to campuses individually and sits at one table with the national leadership.
Until that happens, Sierra Leone’s public universities will remain closed.
