Liberia: Nimba University Faculty Association on Strike

The Faculty Association of Nimba University has shut down the institution in demand of budgetary allocation and salary increment of the institution. 

The group's action, which halted learning activities at the campus of Nimba's highest institution of learning on  January 26, might likely continue for a longer period of time or come to an abrupt pause if their demands are settled.

They accused the government of failing to fulfill previous promises to increase the university budgetary allocation. In the 2022 budget year,  the university received US$1.1 million and in the 2023 draft budget,  the administration proposed US$6.3 million but was allocated US$1.3 million. 

The amount, according to the faculty, is too little to solve the numerous  financial  issues facing the university since its elevation from a community college. Some of the issues include pay increment for faculty members and the creation of a better learning environment, which the university is currently struggling with.

“There is a need for additional classroom construction considering the influx of students every semester. Presently, the school has over 1,200 active and registered students this semester under the tutelage of the stricken faculty members and officials,” the faculty said in a statement. 

“Inadequate chairs and instructional materials to run the affairs of the university have become another nightmare at the institution. If the central government was responding to her responsibilities, we would have addressed major issues confronting the smooth operation of the university.”

Given these demands,  the faculty remains firm in their strike action as the university administration struggles to find a common ground.

Meanwhile, the administration of the university has acknowledged the action of the faculty association and called on them to abolish it in the interest of the students who are the future leaders of the country. 

The administration, in a press statement issued right after the faculty, noted that it is true that these challenges are actually hampering their smooth operation of the school. 

“The administration of the university is therefore appealing to the faculty to reconsider their decision of laying down chalk in the supreme interest of students,” the statement said. “It is true that the issue of low salary continues to escalate the economic burden of the faculty and staff as a result of the low budgetary allotment. The administration has made several trips to Monrovia, reaching out to the main political actors for an amicable solution but it seems as though it is still in a pile line.”