By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- Members of the faculty association of the William V.S. Tubman University in Harper City, Maryland County, southeast Liberia have staged an indefinite go-slow action, calling for the replacement of the University’s President, Dr. D. Elloitt Wreh-Wilson.
Their strike action has entered its third day today, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.
Tubman University is the second public university in Liberia.
Addressing a press conference on the campus of Tubman University on Monday, February 28, 2022, The President of the TU Faculty Association
Mr. Francis Fukah frowned at the university administration for allegedly boycotting their induction ceremony, which he said sends a clear message that enough is enough from constant insults and intransigence of the administration.
But TU’s President Dr. Elliott Wreh-Wilson, who is currently in Monrovia, has denied the claim. Dr. Wreh-Wilson said the demand of the faculty for his administration restitution of money from the government’s salary harmonization scheme was beyond his control.
Mr. Fukah recounts that since December 20, 2021, they have been engaging the administration on campus to provide redress to issues affecting faculty members.
He notes that it’s saddening that the administration chose to go the path of ignoring their concerns despite the faculty giving them two weeks of prior warning of an imminent go-slow.
“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 whom to befriend? What kind of president calls students dogs? WE WILL NOT WORK WITH SUCH A PRESIDENT,” the press release claimed.
Mr. Fukah continues that the administration of Dr. Wreh-Wilson has allegedly denied the faculty privileges ascribed to them and rather, constantly rant insults and disrespect them both in public and private.
He alleged that Dr. Wreh-Wilson and his cabinet apportion unto themselves money that could otherwise be used for the betterment of the entire university.
According to him, besides his salary, Dr. Wreh-Wilson pays himself and members of his cabinet an annual research allowance totaling US$97, 200.