After
ten days, the staff association of the University of The Gambia (UTG) on Friday
brought to an end a sit-down strike it organised over poor wages, lack of
capacity building opportunities, and poor facilities. Lectures have resumed on
Monday.
The
strike ended following a meeting on Wednesday between the Minister of Higher
Education, Research, Science and Technology (MOHERST), Badara A. Joof, the UTG
administration and the executive of the UTG Faculty and Staff Association
(UTGFSA).
The
parties reached a deal, which the UTGFSA called “satisfactory”, to end the
strike that has seen the beginning of the second semester disrupted, as
lecturers and other staff of the university sat at home in protest, saying they
would not go to work until and unless their demands are met.
In
protest, the UTGFSA wanted the dissolution of the university’s senior
management team (SMT). The association
had accused the SMT of pursuing misplaced priorities by buying vehicles for
themselves (the senior management) when employees of the UTG are poorly paid,
denied benefits for further training or studies, lack a fully-equipped physical
or E-library and internet connection, and poor sanitary conditions at the
university.
At
a meeting between the UTGFSA and the minister of higher education, a nine-point
agreement has been reached. As part of
the agreement, the SMT “is dissolved with immediate effect”, and the positions
that are not reflected in the current UTG budget would be abolished.
The
agreement also included the reconstitution of the University Governing Council
with a mandate of being the sole authority to make senior appointments at the
university.
The
tripartite meeting also agreed that an independent audit of the university
finances to be undertaken as a matter of urgency, and also the acting vice
chancellor, university registrar and finance director to facilitate the
procurement of 50 computers to be distributed equally between the School of
Business in Kanifing and the School of Arts and Sciences in Brikama.
As
part of the deal, the deputy vice chancellor (administration) should expedite
the procurement process for laptops earmarked for university staff and
students.
“This
assignment should be accomplished latest 22nd March 2017. For logistical reasons, the distribution of
the said laptops should begin with the academic and administration staff and
later the students,” the parties said.
Mr.
Joof, minister of higher education, has asked the university authorities in
collaboration with the Governing Council to put in place a committee that would
review the pay structure of the university.
He
promised to use his contacts to assist the university authorities in leveraging
additional resources for the institution. The minister’s next meeting with the
group is scheduled for 20th March 2017.
At
the UTGFSA congress on Friday, it was unanimously decided that the action taken
by the minister was satisfactory in so far as the demands of the faculty and
staff association are concerned.
UTGFSA
president Dr Ismaila Ceesay said: “It was, therefore, decided that the strike
action be called off, and that both faculty and staff of the university should
resume work on Monday, March 13, 2017.”
