The start of the new College Academic year has been marred by threats of strike action by the Academic Staff Association of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
A release signed by the President and Scribe of the Association has given government a 21-day ultimatum to pay salaries due lecturers of the college for July and August, 2019 or face industrial action.
The release also disclosed that lecturers will continue with marking of examination papers, long essays and dissertations but will however withhold the marks until their salaries are paid.
The ASA release calls on government to hands off the payment of salaries of University lecturers.
It could be recalled that few months ago, the Ministries of Finance and Higher Education signed a Memorandum Of Understanding to take over the payment of University Lecturers’ salaries effective July, 2019.
During the signing of the MOU, both Ministers of Finance and Higher Education were hopeful that the signing of the MOU would end the issue of incessant strike actions in the universities.
This has proved the contrary as lecturers have claimed not to receive salaries for two months despite assurances that they were to be paid in August.
The recent development is expected to disrupt the smooth start of the new College calendar which was expected to start on 2nd October, 2019.
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is yet to react to recent development.