Across Liberian Ministries, Agencies And Academic Institutions
PHOTO: The Author
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
*By: Pero M. K. Kerkula, Alumnus & Instructor
*Department of Public Administration
*College of Business and Public Administration
*University of Liberia
Subject: On the Functionalization of the University of Liberia and Equitable Compensation in the Public Sector*
Monrovia, Liberia
July 2026
As an alumnus nurtured by this institution, and as a serving instructor within it, I address the nation today not merely from a standpoint of professional concern, but from a profound sense of patriotic duty.
It is with profound dismay that I note that 178 years after the declaration of Liberia’s independence*, the very university that has produced the nation’s presidents, jurists, physicians, engineers, and educators remains paralyzed by systemic dysfunction.
The persistent erosion of academic life at the University of Liberia transcends institutional failure. It constitutes a national emergency that undermines human capital development and jeopardizes the future of our youth and the integrity of our democracy.
KEY OBSERVATIONS AS AN ALUMNUS AND EDUCATOR
- On Institutional Functionality
The academic calendar, research output, and public service mandate of the University of Liberia are routinely compromised. This is attributable to the non-implementation of binding agreements and the chronic delinquency in the remittance of entitlements due to faculty and staff, including compensation for overloads, vacation school, promotions, and social security contributions. Consequently, students bear the burden of lost semesters and disrupted academic progression.
- On Salary Disparities and Labor Equity
A pronounced and indefensible wage disparity persists between personnel in line ministries, agencies, and public corporations and their counterparts in public universities.
This bifurcated compensation architecture devalues intellectual labor, erodes professional morale, and accelerates the attrition of qualified academics. No nation can achieve sustainable development with a demoralized faculty.
- On Infrastructure and Academic Dignity
The prevailing teaching and learning environment is defined by inadequate sanitation, deteriorating infrastructure, and the absence of essential instructional resources. It is untenable to expect the production of world-class graduates from an institution that is denied world-class investment and support.
*II. A CALL TO GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS
I therefore respectfully implore the *Government of Liberia, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the Civil Service Agency, and the University of Liberia Board of Trustees* to demonstrate *urgent political will* through the following actions:
- *Immediate Fiscal Commitment*: Prioritize and disburse adequate budgetary appropriations to fully operationalize the University of Liberia and to settle all outstanding financial obligations to faculty and staff.
- *Execution of the Collective Bargaining Agreement*: Expedite the formal execution and full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the University Administration, ULFA, and ULSA to institutionalize equitable labor practices and restore institutional trust.
- *National Salary Harmonization*: Initiate a comprehensive and transparent review and harmonization of salaries across all public institutions. A lecturer and a civil servant of equal qualification and responsibility must be accorded equal dignity and remuneration.
- *Institutionalization of Dialogue*: Commit to sustained, good-faith engagement with faculty and staff associations to preserve the integrity of the academic calendar and to forestall further disruptions.
III. CONCLUSION
The University of Liberia provided the foundation upon which I have built my life and career. Today, I reciprocate that investment through service. Yet, service alone is insufficient.
A functional university is the bedrock of a functional nation, a functional democracy, effective governance, and a system that prioritizes merit over partisan appointment.
The era of pronouncements and unfulfilled commitments must end.
The era of fiscal accountability, equity, and decisive political action must begin.
I thank you.
Respectfully submitted,
Pero M. K. Kerkula
Alumnus & Instructor
Department of Public Administration
College of Business and Public Administration
University of Liberia.