PAYNESVILLE, LIBERIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., acting in his constitutional capacity as Visitor to the University of Liberia, has successfully brokered a landmark agreement among the University’s principal stakeholders, ending weeks of uncertainty and setting the stage for the orderly resumption of academic and administrative activities.
The breakthrough follows a full day of intensive consultations on Saturday between the President and the leadership of the University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFSA), the University Administration, and the Board of Trustees. The discussions were convened to resolve disagreements that had stalled normal operations at the country’s premier public university.
Underscoring the urgency of the situation, President Boakai called on all parties to place the interests of students and the future of the University above institutional and individual differences. He stressed that dialogue, compromise, and mutual respect—not confrontation, threats, or ultimatums—must remain the foundation for resolving disputes.
The consultations culminated in a comprehensive agreement designed to rebuild trust, address longstanding concerns, and restore stability across the institution.
As an immediate confidence-building measure, the Faculty and Staff Association and the University Administration agreed to withdraw recent public statements that contributed to heightened tensions and recommit themselves to respectful, constructive, and sustained engagement.
A major outcome of the agreement addresses retirement benefits for eligible University employees. The Government, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, will remit US$2.4 million to the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), enabling the immediate enrollment of eligible employees into the national social security system.
In another significant commitment, the parties agreed that 40 percent of outstanding salary arrears owed to eligible beneficiaries will be incorporated into the proposed 2027 National Budget for legislative consideration.
President Boakai also directed immediate attention to the University’s deteriorating infrastructure. Under the agreement, the Government will prioritize the renovation and rehabilitation of existing academic facilities before proceeding with plans for the construction of a new classroom building. The Ministry of Public Works has been tasked with leading the rehabilitation program and developing clear implementation timelines.
To ensure transparency, accountability, and timely delivery, a high-level monitoring committee comprising representatives of the University Administration, Faculty and Staff Association, Board of Trustees, and senior Government officials will oversee implementation of the renovation works and submit weekly progress reports directly to the President.
The meeting was further informed that 6,000 classroom chairs have already been secured, while procurement is underway for an additional 14,000 chairs, significantly improving the learning environment for thousands of students.
Describing the outcome as a major step toward restoring confidence in the University, President Boakai emphasized that agreements alone are insufficient without decisive implementation.
“The University of Liberia is bigger than any individual or disagreement. Our students must not become casualties of institutional differences. We must find solutions, restore confidence, and move this University forward,” President Boakai declared.
The President called on the University Administration, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and all relevant Government institutions to work together in good faith, placing the long-term interests of the University and the Republic of Liberia above competing institutional interests.
He further reaffirmed that dialogue must remain the preferred mechanism for resolving disputes within the University while urging all stakeholders to respect established governance structures, the University’s leadership, and the authority of its Board of Trustees.
President Boakai expressed appreciation to all parties for demonstrating flexibility, statesmanship, and a willingness to find common ground, describing the agreement as an important milestone toward restoring stability and normalcy at his alma mater.
With the agreement now secured, the Government expects all stakeholders to focus on the swift implementation of the agreed measures to ensure the smooth and sustainable resumption of academic and administrative activities, providing Liberia’s students with the stable learning environment they deserve.
The consultations were attended by a delegation from the Faculty and Staff Association led by Professor Alahaji Morris Dukuly; the University Administration headed by Dr. Layli Maparyan, accompanied by Vice President Dr. Lester Z. Tenny; and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Numene T. H. Bartekwa.
Also participating were Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh; Minister of Local Government Francis Sakilah Nyumalin; Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Malley Jalleh; Senior Presidential Advisor Dr. Augustine Konneh; Presidential Legal Advisor Bushuben Keita; Director of the Cabinet Nathaniel T. Kwabo; and Deputy Minister of State for Public Affairs Anthony V. Kesselly.
