On 19 August 2017, the Academic Staff Association of the Njala University laid down their tools and stopped work revoking the suspension of strike actions that originally began in February 2017.
On 25 March 2017, they called off the strike after the University Court appealed to staff for patience and understanding.
During the strike action, lecturers are not teaching, conducting examinations, marking scripts, submitting grades or engaging in any administrative duties. The University is at a standstill. Student, Sia Brima, said, “No classes are being held and my internship is not being supervised by any instructors.”
“The resumption of the strike action,” according to Philip Foday Yamba Thulla, Secretary, Academic Staff Association, “is a result of failure on the part of the University administration and the government to address the demands of the ASA.”
According to Thulla, the strike action is not only calling for the payment of salaries but the payment of all backlog benefits and allowances for lecturers.
In article published by the Awoko in March, Thulla disclosed that the retirement benefits of some lecturers have not been paid adding that lecturers have scarificed to ensure that the university functions.
Thulla said, “The strike will continue until Vice President Victor Foh meets with the university administration and staff on Friday 25 August 2017. After that, we’ll decide how best to proceed.”
SV/23/8/17
By Sylvia Villa
Thursday August 24, 2017.
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