Liberian NewsUncategorised

Weah sacks UL President Weeks, brings in J. Sawolo Nelson, Jr.

(Last Updated On: )

-As UL faculty begin strike for pay and SUP gives Gov’t 12-hour ultimatum

-Also, long list of new Presidential  appointments announced

As the state-run University of Liberia faces industrial action with the faculty striking of salary payment, President George Manneh Weah on Thursday dismissed the UL President Dr. Ophelia Weeks.

Dr. Weeks is being replaced by a junior official at the institution and former Dean of Students Affairs, Methodist cleric, Dr. J. Sawolo Nelson, Jr. in a long list of other presidential appointments.

An Executive Mansion press release did not give reason for her dismissal. But President Weah’s move coincided with the start of a strike by the UL Faculty Association on Thursday.

At the same time, the Students Unification Party (SUP) at the UL has given a 12-hour ultimatum to the University of Liberia Administration and the government to meet the demand of aggrieved UL faculty members to clear their salary arrears.

As Garmah Never Lomo reports, SUP has also condemned Tuesday’s “brutal attack on elementary and secondary students and stands solidarity with faculty members of the University of Liberia and the Monrovia Consolidated School System.” 

Speaking at a news conference in Monrovia on Thursday, SUP’s Chairman Carlos Tingban Edison said it is with utmost displeasure they unapologetically condemn the continuous delay and unjusticable cut in the salaries and allowances of faculty members of the University of Liberia and MCSS.

Mr. Edison in his statement disclosed that and believed that those demand are not only realistic, but reasonable.

Therefore, the UL-based students political party are calling on GOL and UL administration to responsibly address those legitimate concerns with urgency adding that failure to adhere to their 12-hour ultimatum, SUP will rally thousands of university and the MCSS students to carry out series of protest action leading up to a mass civil disorder.

The SUP Chairman further said that let it be known the financial burden of President Weah as promised in his failed tuition free policy cannot and must never be transferred to faculty members and economically challenged students. 

The head SUP stated that they will vehemently resist any such attempted instead of lavishing over US 1m just to celebrate July 26 and distributing L$5000 each to Zogos adding that it was prudence enough to satisfy or settle financial obligations of legitimate constituents such as public school teachers professor, health workers, security personnel and civil servants.

The vanguard Student Unification Party narrated that all these hullabaloos, the students are mostly affected and deprived and moving forward,  they will not accept any further delay in their academic activities.

SUP said it will do all they can to protect the ultimate interest of all students indicating that they will take the most appropriate course of action to defend the rights of the masses children. 

However, it is the right to have unhindered access to educate as enshrined in Article 6 of the 1986 constitution of Liberia and Article 26 of the 1948 Universal declaration of human rights not even the government.

SUP expressed that they are re-sounding a caveat to both UL administration and the Government to refrain from instigating uproar and discord in the country.

They are decisively standing with  the faculty members of the University of Liberia and MCSS and henceforth the government and the UL administration serves as a few hours ultimatum to unconditionally meet the four demands from the faculty members which includes that September and October salaries and allowances be paid without any further delay. 

SUP has demanded that all deductions from salaries and allowances of lecturers or teachers and employees be paid in full. 

The UL students also want all teachers in every public institution to be exempt from any form of Pro-poor salary cut harmonization; and that salaries and benefits of adjunct professors or lecturers are paid in full and in time as specified in the contract with UL and the MCSS. 

BELOW: FULL TEXT OF THE LATEST PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS

Monrovia, Liberia:  The President of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah has made additional appointments in government. The appointments affecting ministries, agencies and commissions as well as the University of Liberia (UL) take immediate effect though subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate where applicable.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Edwin Juah                                       Assistant Minister /European Affairs

Ministry of Internal Affairs

Esiaka Sheriff                                  Assistant Minister for Research, Planning & Development

Ministry of Mines & Energy

George Gontor                             Deputy Minister/Energy

William T. Thompson II                Assistant Minister for Energy

Ministry of Agriculture

Dr. George T. Forpoh Jr.                Deputy Minister/Regional Development, Research & Extension

Ministry of National Defense

Tarplah Davies                                 Deputy Minister for Operations

Ministry of Post & Telecommunication 

Varney Okai                                    Deputy Minister for Operations                                                            

Ministry of Public Works

Macarthur Hilton                           Assistant Minister for Rural Development

Civil Law Court

Cllr. J Kennedy Peabody                  Resident judge Sixth judicial circuit 

Replacing Associate justice Yusif Kaba                                            

Liberian Embassy in Washington DC

Al Jerome Chede                             Minister Counselor for Press & Public 

Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission

Cllr.  Nbuduis Nwabudike             Chairman

Kanio Bai Gbala                              Vice Chairperson 

Charles Gibson                                Commissioner

LIBTELCO/Board 

George Howe                                 Member                   

Chicago Bright                                 Member

Cllr.  Alexandra Zoe                        Member

Civil Service Agency

Teetee Pailey                                   Deputy Director General for Administration

Rural Renewable Energy

Joseph T. Williams                          Executive Director 

Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment

Mariama M. Koon                         Deputy Executive Director

Liberia Medicine & Health Products Regulatory Authority

Keturah Chupee Smith                 Executive Director 

Center for National Documents and Record Agency ( CNDRA)

Mr. Emmanuel Lomax                  Director General 

National Food Assistance Agency 

C. Neileh Daitauoh                         Director                                                       

National Housing Authority

Henry Clarke                                    Deputy Managing Director/Operations

Mittal Operating Company Board Representative to the Board

Dr. Gonsahn Matardy                   Member

Liberia Electrical Corporation (LEC) Board

Cllr. Charles Gibson                       Chairman

National Oil Company of Liberia Board(NOCAL)

Richard B. Devine                           Chairman

Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC):

Randolph Cooper                           Chairman

University of Liberia

Dr. Julius Sawolo Nelson              President

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