MONROVIA – The University of Liberia (UL) has been plunged into a fresh leadership and labor crisis after the University’s Faculty Association (ULFA) and University of Liberia Staff Association (ULSA) unanimously declared a vote of no confidence in the institution’s senior leadership and announced an indefinite disengagement from all academic and administrative activities.
The decision, reached during a joint General Assembly on Friday, July 17, 2026, targets the President of the University of Liberia, the Acting Vice President for Fiscal Affairs and Finance, and the Associate Vice President for Human Resource, signaling deepening dissatisfaction over what faculty and staff describe as the administration’s failure to address longstanding welfare and employment concerns.
According to a press statement issued by ULFA, members of both associations unanimously resolved to withdraw their services until the university administration fully implements a series of outstanding commitments affecting employees.
The faculty and staff said their indefinite disengagement will remain in force until there is visible evidence that their demands have been met.
Among the issues cited are the settlement of NASSCORP-related obligations, implementation of a 40 percent salary increment, correction of salary disparities, salary adjustments, change of employee status, and the provision of operational funds for various university units, among other outstanding concerns.
The action threatens to significantly disrupt academic instruction, administrative operations, and other essential services at Liberia’s premier public university, potentially affecting thousands of students.
In a further escalation, ULFA and ULSA instructed all faculty and staff members to stay away from every university-related activity until the leadership of both organizations officially lifts the industrial action.
The associations also warned that any faculty or staff member who defies the General Assembly’s decision would face disciplinary action from the leadership.
“All faculty and staff are hereby mandated to stay away from all University activities until otherwise ordered by the leadership of ULFA and ULSA. Any member of the Faculty and staff found to be in violation of this decision will face the full wrath of the leadership,” the statement declared.
The organizations also cautioned university supervisors and senior administrators against attempting to compel employees to resume work contrary to the General Assembly’s decision.
“All supervisors and/or Vice Presidents are cautioned against compelling any member of the staff or faculty to engage in normal activities against the will of the General Assembly,” the statement added.
The vote of no confidence represents one of the strongest expressions of dissatisfaction by the University’s workforce in recent years and places additional pressure on the administration to address mounting concerns over employee welfare, compensation, and institutional governance.
The latest development also raises fresh concerns about the stability of Liberia’s higher education sector, particularly if the impasse remains unresolved and academic activities continue to be suspended.
As of Saturday, the University of Liberia administration had not publicly responded to the vote of no confidence or the faculty and staff’s decision to embark on an indefinite strike.
The statement was signed by Eric T. S. Patten, Secretary General of the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA).
