GBARNGA — The Rural Universities and Colleges Faculty Association of Liberia (RUCEFAL) has announced the commencement of an indefinite nationwide economic strike action beginning September 24, 2025, citing persistent salary disparities and poor working conditions at rural public institutions.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The decision was reached during an Emergency General Assembly held virtually on September 11, 2025. Faculty representatives from nine institutions participated, including Grand Bassa University, Bomi County Community College, Bong County Technical College, Lofa County University, Grand Gedeh University College, Grand Kru University, Margibi University, Nimba University, and Sinoe County Community College.
According to RUCEFAL, the strike is in response to what it describes as the Government of Liberia’s continued failure to address long-standing disparities in salaries and benefits between rural public universities and colleges and their counterparts at the University of Liberia and William V.S. Tubman University.
In a statement issued by the RUCEFAL Secretariat, the association expressed frustration over what it says is a lack of substantive commitment from both the Executive Branch and the National Legislature, despite months of engagement with key stakeholders.
RUCEFAL detailed a timeline of official actions, including the submission of a formal petition to President Joseph Nyumah Boakai on February 12, 2025. The petition called for intervention on salary inequities.
Following the petition, the President instructed the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) to conduct a comprehensive review of the disparities. The NCHE completed its investigation and submitted recommendations to the Office of the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs between March and May.
Further follow-up was carried out by RUCEFAL with Acting Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Hadja Mamaka Bility. A renewed request for action was submitted to her office on August 14, 2025, urging swift implementation of the NCHE’s recommendations.
RUCEFAL also met with lawmakers including Honorable Nyahn G. Flomo, Chair of the House Committee on Education, and Honorable Nathanael F. McGill, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, to seek legislative support for a resolution. However, the association reports that these engagements have not resulted in any tangible action.
The faculty association is now demanding the establishment of a formal Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Government of Liberia and RUCEFAL to ensure that salaries and benefits are standardized in line with those offered at the University of Liberia and Tubman University.
The association believes rural faculty should be compensated fairly based on their qualifications and experience.
RUCEFAL also presented a financial breakdown of the 2025 national budget. The total allocation for the nine RUCEFAL-affiliated institutions is currently 9,462,544 United States dollars. Of this amount, 5,665,502.40 dollars is designated for salaries, while 3,797,041.60 dollars covers goods and services.
According to RUCEFAL, an additional 6,590,109.60 dollars is required to bring the total to 16,052,653.60 dollars to adequately meet operational and personnel needs.
Beyond salary equity, the association is calling for other key benefits including transportation and housing support for faculty, life insurance, research allowances, and special relocation incentives for faculty assigned to rural counties. It also calls for the establishment of a comprehensive faculty development program specifically tailored for rural institutions.
As part of the strike resolution, RUCEFAL has directed all academic staff members at affiliated institutions to suspend academic activities and refrain from attending campus beginning September 24. The strike will remain in effect until their demands are met.
The association stated that the strike is not only about financial parity but also about broader systemic issues including poor infrastructure, lack of academic investment, and unsatisfactory conditions of service at rural colleges and universities.
As of the time of this report, the Government of Liberia has not issued any formal response to the strike declaration. It is unclear whether the Ministry of Education or the NCHE will take steps to intervene before the strike disrupts the academic calendar.
Some faculty and student leaders have raised concerns about the potential impact on students, particularly those preparing for graduation or examinations in the current semester.
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