By Kemo Cham
The Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University, Professor Osman Sankoh, has appealed to members of the Junior Staff Association to exercise patient as he looked into the possibility of paying their outstanding ‘Dirty Work’ Allowances.
Prof. Sankoh, who is fondly called Mallam O, was addressing representatives of the association who had called on him at his office at the administrative building of the university at Njala Mokonde.
According to a press release from the university’s communications unit, the President and the Executive of the association were meeting with Prof. Sankoh for the first time since his appointment as caretaker Vice Chancellor and Principal in March this year.
The association’s president, Samuel K. Kamara, used the opportunity to relate several “burning issues” affecting his membership, notably the outstanding payment of 75% of their dirty work allowances, stagnated conditions of service, lack of access to their NASSIT files and the non-involvement of the junior staff in the implementation of projects run by the university.
The association members reportedly praised Mallam O for his judicious management of the meager resources of the institution in the last few months.
Prof. Sankoh, according to the release, cited his “humble beginning” as basis for his concern for the welfare and plight of junior staffers, which he said constituted the bedrock of any institution.
Sankoh therefore assured the association that he understood their concerns around accessing their NASSIT files and their desire to participate actively in the implementation of projects by the university. With regards the payment of the 75% dirty work allowance, Sankoh noted that his administration was cash-strapped and therefore could not afford to instantly pay the 75%, according to the release. He however assured them that his administration would look into the possibility of paying 25% for a start.
Prof. Sankoh, who is also Sierra Leone’s Statistician General, was appointed to head the Njala University on March 31 after its substantive principal, Professor Abdullah Mansaray, was unceremoniously removed by President Julius Maada Bio, amidst reports of disagreement between the then administration and the academic staff.
Politico understands that efforts are in progress to appoint a permanent Vice Chancellor and Principal for the university which is the leading center of studies in the biological and agricultural sciences in the country.
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