President Joseph N. Boakai says he has relieved Dr. Julius J.S. Nelson of his duties as President of the University of Liberia (UL), effective immediately.
This decision, announced from the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, follows extensive consultations with UL’s Board of Trustees and key stakeholders.
Dr. Nelson’s tenure has been marked by mounting challenges, including financial woes and operational issues that have strained relations with faculty and staff.
The University of Liberia Faculty and Staff Association (ULFASA) recently halted teaching activities, citing unpaid salaries for part-time lecturers and poor working conditions as key grievances.
In response to these issues, President Boakai has appointed former UL President Ambassador Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh as Acting President to lead an Interim Management Team.
Dr. Conteh, nominated unanimously by the Board, will oversee a comprehensive review and reforms within UL, aiming to restore stability and address the concerns raised by ULFASA.
The decision to remove Dr. Nelson comes amid persistent calls for leadership change and institutional reforms.
ULFASA, in a unanimous resolution, had demanded Dr. Nelson’s resignation, holding him accountable for the financial hardships faced by part-time lecturers and staff.
Dr. Edna Johnny, President of ULFASA, underscored the association’s frustrations, emphasizing the administration’s failure to address longstanding grievances despite numerous discussions.
She highlighted the financial hardships faced by part-time lecturers, who have gone unpaid for multiple semesters while still facing deductions from their salaries.
Moreover, faculty and staff at UL’s Sinje Campus continue to endure transportation challenges, compounding their financial burdens.
These issues have deeply impacted morale and productivity across the university campuses.
In a parallel development, UL announced the resumption of classes on June 24, 2024, signaling efforts to normalize academic operations under the new interim leadership.
Academic directors, deans, and department chairpersons have been urged to collaborate closely with faculty to ensure a smooth transition back to teaching.
The appointment of Dr. Conteh as Acting President marks another beginning of a critical phase for UL, with expectations high for immediate reforms and sustainable improvements.
The interim leadership is tasked with stabilizing the university’s operations and laying the groundwork for a transparent and inclusive process to select a permanent president within three months.
As UL navigates these transitions, stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic about the future, emphasizing the need for decisive actions to restore confidence and ensure the university’s continued academic excellence.
