Why Was The President’s Directive Not Carried Out To Immediately Convene UL Board Meeting Since May 27?
It only emerged over the weekend that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai had given a directive for the University of Liberia (UL) Board of Trustees to hold an urgent meeting to “formalize the establishment of a Search Committee tasked with identifying and selecting the new leadership of the University” since May 27, 2024, but the order has not been carried out close to three weeks after.
The longstanding problem of instability that that frequently disrupted academic activities at the state-owned University of Liberia has rolled over into President Joseph Boakai’s Unity Party Alliance government, with both faculty and staff announcing joint action to stop all academic and other work activities with immediate effect.
News of this directive came about as a result of a strong joint position statement issued by the UL Faculty Association and Staff Association after a mass meeting at the weekend (Friday, June 14, 2024. In their statement, they demanded the immediate removal of the current leadership of the UL headed by President Sarwolo Nelson and other demands, which prompted an Executive Mansion press release that made the revelation.
“His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President, and Visitor to the University of Liberia, has issued a formal directive to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and President of the University of Liberia.
The directive, which was communicated on May 27, 2024, mandates the immediate convening of a Board meeting to formalize the establishment of a Search Committee tasked with identifying and selecting the new leadership of the University, in strict adherence to the University’s charter,” the Executive Mansion press release said on Saturday, June15, 2024 .
Some 24 hours earlier, the UL Faculty and Staff announced an immediate strike action until the following demands are met>
“The leadership of ULFASA has resolved that until the below demands are fully resolved, there would be no activity on the UL campuses. The issues include: that the UL president and his cabinet must leave the UL without any precondition; that all arrears and current salaries of Part-Time faculty must be settled without any precondition; that the longstanding promotion of faculty members must be implemented without any precondition, among other things.
The decision by the UL faculty and staff stop work on the institution’s campuses came hard on the heels of frequent protest actions by students of the state-owned university due to the latest disruption in the bus service to the UL campus at Fendell outside Monrovia. The protests often disrupt normal classes and sometimes protesting student have become violent.
BELOW THE JOINT ULFA AND ULSA PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWED BY THE EXECUTIVE MANSION PRESS RELEASE:
University of Liberia Faculty& Staff Association (ULFASA)
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!
The University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA) convened in a combined Emergency General Assembly on Friday, June 14, 2024, at the hour of 12:00 Midday and made decisions on issues affecting their welfare.
The leadership and members of the ULFASA being wary of the repeated promises and failures of the UL Administration to address concerns of their welfare, decided to disengage from all Administrative and Academic activities on all campuses of the University of Liberia.
ULFASA therefore urge everyone to adhere to this mandate as we jointly pursue a lasting pathway to our many issues. We urge all Administrative staff as well as Academic staff to adhere to this straight mandate.
The leadership of ULFASA has resolved that until the below demands are fully resolved, there would be no activity on the UL campuses. The issues include:
- That the UL president and his cabinet must leave the UL without any precondition;
- That all arrears and current salaries of Part-Time faculty must be settled without any precondition;
- That the longstanding promotion of faculty members must be implemented without any precondition;
- That all retroactive payments of staff members must be settled without any precondition;
- That all disparities of staff be settled without further delays;
- That the bus for Sinje be provided as agreed;
- That a comprehensive audit of the UL be executed; and
- That a comprehensive credentials audit be executed;
ULFASA therefore urge all members to stay away from all campuses and keep all offices closed until further notice. Absolutely, there will be no access to any Administrative or Academic building as our team of enforcers will begin making rounds on the various campuses on Monday, June 17, 2024.
We remind all Directors and Deans not to compel any staff or faculty to go against this unanimous decision as the Executive Committee of ULFASA is empowered to take additional measures to ensure that our members are safe from reprisal actions.
Signed: The Secretariat
EXECUTIVE MANSION PRESS RELEASE
Executive Mansion, Monrovia – His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President, and Visitor to the University of Liberia, has issued a formal directive to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and President of the University of Liberia.
The directive, which was communicated on May 27, 2024, mandates the immediate convening of a Board meeting to formalize the establishment of a Search Committee tasked with identifying and selecting the new leadership of the University, in strict adherence to the University’s charter.
President Boakai has underscored the critical importance of expeditiously forming the committee to ensure seamless continuity and stability at the University.
This pivotal directive issued nearly three weeks ago, emphatically underscores the urgency and gravity of this matter.
The Visitor to the University expressed his expectation of an unwavering commitment from the administration and the Board of Trustees and anticipates their swift and resolute action to address this vital issue, ensuring an efficient and transparent transition of leadership within the University of Liberia.