By Hajaratu Kalokoh
Members of Fourah Bay College Junior Staff Association held a brief protest at the college’s campus on Monday. The staff expressed dissatisfaction over the delay of their salary and leave allowance.
The staff attempted to close one of the major buildings on the campus in a bid to get attention from the college authorities regarding their discontent. Members of the association say they have not been paid for two months and their leave allowance have been reduced by ‘strange’ taxes.
Henry J Square, President of the Junior Staff told Politico in an interview that they cannot meet their obligations as family heads as a result of their current plight.
‘’The issues is not only based on two month salary and leave allowance, presently National Revenue Authority deduct 30% from our leave allowance without no tangible explanation.”
He added: “With that leave allowances we pay our rent, support our family and do other basic things.”
Junior Staff Association is made up of cleaners, messengers, securities, clerical staff and artisans. They are in a separate payment cadre from the Academic Staff.
The discontent has the possibility to affect the college’s work if not settled in time. The University of Sierra Leone is currently on recess, but college is expected to be reopened next month.
Already the college is preparing to process and interview a fresh batch of applicants in the coming weeks.
Tonya Musa, Director of Media Alumni and International Relations said that the university has resolved the issue with the protesters and they have resumed work.
He said: “Their salaries will be paid as soon as possible.”
Staff at the University of Sierra Leone are currently going through verification by the government of Sierra Leone, following a move to integrate them in to the government’s payroll.
Last week the government issued a press release stating that it has paid salaries of staff July and August salaries of staff of FBC, although the 50% outstanding leave allowance was not mentioned.
Jacob Jusu Saffa, Finance Minister said that 65 out of 976 Staff of the University of Sierra Leone have verification issues but it has paid le8.53 billion for July and August salaries.
© 2019 Politico Online
