PHOTO: (L-R) UL Pres. Dr. Nelson and ULFA head, Dr. Edna Johnny
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The University of Liberia administration and the UL Faculty Association (ULFA) have signed an agreement aimed at ending the weeks of strike by faculty over a number of grievances.
The Memorandum of Understating (MoU), which was signed in Monrovia at the weekend, will now pave the way for the resumption of classes at the state-owned University, beginning this Friday, October 8, 2021.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Edna Johnny, President of the UL Faculty Association on behalf of her organization and UL President, Dr. Julius Nelson, signed on behalf of the UL administration.
The MOU calls for the completion of reconciled pay disparity report by a joint team of Liberian government, ULFA and UL administration on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
The parties also resolved that the communication from the UL to the insurer, for renewal of the faculty medical/health insurance agreement and the insurer acceptance of the agreement be made available to ULFA by Monday, October 4, 2021.
The MOU says that the UL administration and the Liberian government will commence the payment of arrears for part-timers, beginning Monday, October 4, 2021.
According to the agreement, the administration of the UL will ensure the provision of instructional materials including white board markers, pens, sheets crayons, dusters, printer cartridges, etc.
The payment of outstanding instructional internet data package is to also be made available, the MoU says.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, ULFA President, Edna Johnny thanked the Visitor to the University, President George Weah for his speedy intervention and seriousness he has shown since the boycott of classes began at the institution.
She described the signing of the MOU between ULFA and UL administration as a historic day because it is intended to address the problems that have been affecting the instructors at the institution over the years.
Dr. Johnny said: “We did not disengage because we did not want to teach but we embarked on the strike action because we had interaction with the administration but nothing was forthcoming. Thank God that the visitor has intervened and has given us hope again,” she said.
“For us to have dignity as professors, we will be taking the decisions reached to our general assembly on the sixth of October purposely to inform our colleagues of this development.”
For his part, UL President, Dr. Julius Nelson, assured ULFA that the UL administration will ensure that agreement signed will be implemented to the letter.
“We are very happy to see that after the ‘ring ma roll’ that we can come to an agreement in the interest of our faculty, students and the administration. We from the administration want to express gratitude to the Liberian government for standing with us during the time of the negotiation,” Dr. Nelson said.
In remarks, Finance and Development Planning, Samuel Tweah assured the UL administration and ULFA that the government will ensure that government will ensure that the agreement is implemented.
According to him, the government wants a peaceful academic environment to prevail on the campus of the university for those who want development themselves.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by James Thompson, Director General, Civil Service Agency; and Dr. Ansu Sonii, Minister of Education.
Others at the signing ceremony were Nathaniel McGill, the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs; Representative Mathew Zarzar, Chairman Board of Directors of the University of Liberia and Ruth Corker Collins, Minister of Public Works. among others.