Showdown Likely:

Dr. Manparyan’s Administration Tell Faculty & Staff They “Must Return To Work On Monday, August 17”

But ULFASA Reject Order Calling It “Dictatorial Slave Mentality”

By Our Staff Writer

The crisis at the state-owned University of Liberia (UL) appears to be worsening, with the administration of Dr. Layli Manparyan and the University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Associations (ULFA/ULSA, with signs that both sides are heading for a collision course.

A statement from the administration ordering all faculty and staff to report to work on Monday, August 17, 2026 has irritated the faculty members and employees, who see it as “dictatorial”.

This is what the UL administration said:

“All UL Employees must return to work on Monday, August 17, and begin immediate preparations for the resumption of classes on Tuesday, August 25,according to this release signed by UL President Layli Maparyan, UL President and approved by Board Chair, Numene Bartekwa.”

But ULFA/ULFA, who at the end of their July 17, 2026 General Assembly came up with a “vote of no confidence” in the institution’s President Dr. Manparyan and called for the removal of two of her Vice Presidents, hit back on Friday, August 14. 2026 in a strongly-worded press statement:

“The leadership of ULFA/ULSA categorically rejects the mandate and describes this dictatorial slave mentality as the lowest in this history of leadership at the University of Liberia.” ULFAULSA said in a press statement issued in Monrovia today, Friday, August 14, 2026.

ULFA/ULSA are therefore, calling on all faculty and staff to continue to disengaged with the UL administration and not to heed the directive to report to work on August 17 and begin preparation for the resumption of classes on August 26.

In what some UL observers say amounts to “adding insult to injury” is a Facebook podcast posted by one of the two Vice Presidents ULFA/ULSA want removed, Dr. Lester Tennie, Vice President for Fiscal Affairs in which he launched a blistering attack on the striking faculty and staff and their leadership, describing them as “headless chicken”.  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19ArXkt9CJ/

In fact, Tennie described the latest strike action by the UL faculty and staff as “illegal”.

Recently, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai expressed  serious concern and calling for both the school’s administration and striking faculty and staff to dialogue and resolve the crisis. Latest Crisis At UL Claims Pres. Boakai’s Concern: Not Pleased With Slow Pace Of Renovation, Despite Gov’t “Significant Investment” – News Public Trust