Liberia: "We’ll Not Work with Tubman University President"

Members of the Tubman University Faculty Association (TUFA) have announced indefinite strike actions over better pay and learning condition.

In a written statement by its Secretary-General and approved by TUFA president, Francis K. Fukah, Jr., said, “We gather here once more as Tubman University Faculty Association (TUFA) not for the sake of induction of our officials – an induction which was boycotted by the entire University Administration, but to send a clear message that enough is enough as we will no more subject ourselves to the insults and intransigence of this administration.” 

Tubman University is the leading institution of higher learning in Southeastern Liberia.  The institution was built in 1970 during the last birthday celebration of the late President William V.S. Tubman – partly with deductions from salaries of gainfully employed Marylanders.  

It was opened in 1978 and initially named Tubman College of Technology during the administration of the late President William R. Tolbert. The institution drew hundreds of students from the length and breadth of the country and from neighboring West African countries.  It offered Associate Degrees in civil, architecture, mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering technologies.

Since December 20, 2021, TUFA said, they have been engaging the administration of Tubman University (TU) to provide redress to issues affecting faculty members on TU. 

Sadly, there has been neither the determination nor that desire on the part of the administration, particularly under the administration of Dr. Wreh-Wilson, as president to do so.

TUFA members said, “Even after TUFA had given them two extra weeks and warning of possible actions, Dr. Wreh-Wilson has opted to remain in Monrovia while his caretakers issue a press release and appear on a radio talk show to address TUFA. 

“What kind of president tells lecturers and professors that they don’t have brains; that they are useless if they drank more than a bottle of beer a week; what kind of president tells his faculty members they are “bloody liars,” that he spent US$4,000 to dig his late wife’s grave whereas we just do our own anyhow here in Liberia; what kind of president goes on record to dissolve the board of a university? What kind of president calls his employees enemies? What kind of president tells you who to befriend? What kind of president calls students’ dogs? We will not work with such a president.”

According to them, the administration of Dr. Wreh-Wilson has denied us privileges ascribed to us by virtue of our respective positions, while constantly insulting and disrespecting us both in public and private spaces. 

They also mentioned in their six counts resolution called on TU administration to issues of employees’ pay slips from 2019 to date, provide TUFA with copies of the payroll from 2019 to date, that MFDP, administration and TUFA discuss the University’s payroll relating to direct deposits from the Ministry, payroll control, and the standard used across public universities, provisions of residence and or work permits to employees who have already paid through salary deduction while restituting the money to those who have gotten their papers on their own.

They also want the administration of TU to revert to the selection committee’s recommendation or more importantly, the handbook’s regulation in awarding study opportunities to employees as opposed to handpicking of individuals, provide TUFA with a well-furnished office on campus for its operations, cease the involuntary transfer of administrative/support staff to the classrooms as a means of punishment as well as replacement of Dr. Elliot Wreh-Wilson as President of Tubman University.   

However, TUFA said considering the administration’s lack of commitment to honor these issues affecting faculty members and by consensus at the Special General Assembly, the body overwhelmingly resolved to disagree from all academic activities effective Saturday, February 26, 2022, until all its demands are met.   

TUFA said in their resolution that the economic situation in that part of Liberia is challenging - so much so that saving is not an option for many employees. 

“While we lament this and other conditions, Dr. Wreh-Wilson and his cabinet members continue to apportion unto themselves amounts of money that could otherwise be used for the betterment of the entire university,’ TUFA added. 

They continued, “This is evident by the fact that Dr. Wreh-Wilson, in addition to his salary pays himself US$30, 000 annually as research allowance, followed by S. Benson Barh – US$12,000, Mle-Too Wesley – US$12,000, T. Dan Jah Bestman – US$6000, Rev.  Mathew Akinsulre – US$7,200, Gbalee Gray – US$7,200, Anthony Siakor – US$7,200, Emmanuel Y. Harmon – US$7,200, Isaac L. George – US$6,000 and Philip A.  Theoway, Executive assistant to the president – US$2,400.” 

According to them, the total of their so-called research allowance costs TU US$97,200 yearly.

However, TUFA said, the "question to all of us is this. What research are they doing? At least one of them is on record admitting to using part of his research allowance to give 'tips' and to also provide lunch for the people he meets in offices in Monrovia (and we demand an investigation into such indictable comment). "

Currently, the faculty members added that a computer class of 31 students has six computers. Ninety-seven thousand two hundred United States dollars can buy computers for our labs. Ninety-seven thousand two hundred United States dollars can provide housing and or housing allowance for faculty members. 

Additionally, TUFA said, ninety-seven thousand two hundred United States dollars can provide better offices for teachers. Ninety-seven thousand two hundred United States dollars can equip our laboratories. Ninety-seven thousand two hundred United States dollars can be used to send faculty members away for studies adding that, “We could go on and on.”

According to their resolution, some of them have spent more than ten years of their youthful lives working for TU.  “We are aging with little or no prospect of graceful retirement in sight. We get sick with limited options for advanced medical care.”

They also used the occasion to thank J.J. Dossen Hospital and PIH – otherwise, only God knows how many of them would still be standing on TU.

“Coming here to teach is a great sacrifice. You deny yourself the relative luxury of the city, family time, recreation, advanced medical care. And if you do have kids, options of early childhood educational facilities are very few. We deserve better!” the statement said. 

They also disclosed that on the issues of transfer, Dr. Wreh-Wilson has used the Library, and most recently the classroom as his prison. This is not without violation of the University handbook. 

“A trained accountant was a few months ago transferred to the classroom after his audit reports showed that one of the vice presidents had stolen more than one million Liberian dollars from the school bus fund. 

“Recently, this president unilaterally transferred a Bachelor's Degree holder to the classroom and assigned the person in question the rank of an Assistant Professor,” TUFA concluded.