The Rural Universities and Colleges Faculty Association of Liberia (RUCFAL) has announced an indefinite nationwide economic strike set to begin on Tuesday, September 24, 2025. The Association said the decision follows what it describes as “years of neglect and salary and benefit disparities, as well as working conditions between rural public and urban institutions.” The pronouncement was made following an emergency General Assembly held virtually on September 11, 2025 via Zoom, which brought together full-time faculty members from nine rural public higher learning institutions across the country.
They include: Nimba University, Grand Gedeh University College, Grand Kru County Community College, Bong County Technical College, Lofa County Community College, Margibi University, River Gee University, Bomi University College, and Sinoe University. According to RUCFAL, the Assembly has unanimously resolved to take industrial action, citing persistent disparities in salaries and benefits between faculty at rural colleges and those at Liberia’s two major state-run universities, the University of Liberia and William V.S. Tubman University in Maryland County. RUCFAL has outlined multiple attempts to resolve the issue through dialogue with national authorities but to no avail
RUCFAL further disclosed that it engaged with Hon. Nyahn G. Flomo, Chair of the House Committee on Education, and Hon. Nathaniel F. McGill, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, to explore potential legislative remedies. Despite these efforts, RUCFAL contends there has been “an apparent lack of substantive commitment” from both the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branches to address their grievances. Beyond salary and benefit disparities, RUCFAL highlighted additional challenges confronting rural institutions and faculty, including:
RUCFAL noted that in the 2025 National Budget, US$9,462,544.00 was allocated to the nine institutions under its umbrella, with US$5,665,502.40 specifically earmarked for salaries. However, the Association argues that an additional US$6,590,109.60 is urgently needed to cover basic operational and welfare needs, bringing the minimum required funding to US$16,052,653.60. RUCFAL has submitted a list of demands to be incorporated into a formal Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Government of Liberia. These include:
Effective September 24, 2025, RUCFAL has directed all academic staff members of its affiliated institutions to withdraw from classroom teaching, administrative duties, and all campus-related activities. The indefinite strike, the Association stressed, will continue until all demands are satisfactorily addressed by the Government of Liberia.
The directive, formally signed by RUCFAL’s Secretariat, emphasizes that the decision was not made lightly but rather as a last resort following repeated unfulfilled commitments. RUCFAL is calling on President Boakai, the National Legislature, the Ministry of Education, and the National Commission on Higher Education to immediately intervene and prevent a prolonged disruption to Liberia’s higher education system. The Association warned that continued neglect of rural institutions will deepen educational inequality, further marginalize rural counties, and erode national development efforts. “We remain committed to the education of Liberia’s future leaders,” RUCFAL stated, “but we cannot continue under these unfair and unsustainable conditions. Our action is not only about salaries; it is about dignity, equity, and the survival of rural higher education in Liberia.”
