MONROVIA – Students of the University of Liberia, specifically members of the campus-based political group – the Student Unification Party (SUP) – are resolved to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations unless the University’s faculty are paid their salary arrears.
Members of the UL faculty have refused to administer the final examinations for the semester pending the payment of their salary and payment of previous deductions made from their salaries and allowances.
With two days to the Independence celebration, the students have taken to the streets in protest, mounting road blocks and chanting anti-government slogans.
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf went to the protest scene to intervene and have the students forgo the protest and allow negotiations to go on. The students, however, snubbed the former President, insisting that their protest would continue until the lecturers are paid.
Below is SUP’s list of demands
“SUP rallies conscious university students; shuts down Monrovia – Day 1 Get ready to shoot and arrest all of us but there will be no Independence Day celebration on July 26 if these demands are not met:
a. The full payment of salaries/allowances of faculty members including adjunct professors and part-timers of UL for June and July 2019
b. The full restitution of all monies deducted from faculty members and exemption from any and every form of “pro-poor cut”
c. The payment of all civil servants including public school teachers, nurses/doctors, security personnel, etc. Most civil servants haven’t taken pay for almost 4 months now
d. The release of remaining US$1 million for NEC to conduct a smooth by-election in Montserrado
e. The immediate transfer of allowances and stipends owed to stranded Liberian students in Morocco.
g. The lifting of ban on student political activities at the State-run University of Liberia and revision of the ‘New Student Handbook’
Note: Former President EJS got traffic-jammed and came to appeal but was snubbed. The masses children too deserve to be in school. Lavishingly spending over US$1 million to meerymake on July 26 and sharing L$5000 each on youth at risk (zogos) is a misplaced priority and an egregious display of gross insensitivity and misapplication of scarce resources. Long Live SUP – Long Live Massescracy. We shall never abandon the Masses Struggle. If no one dares stand up, SUP will. Thanks to all fearless and resilient militants of SUP.”
More details coming soon.