The Administration of the University of Liberia (UL) has attended a General Assembly of the UL Staff Association (ULSA), assuring the association that productive conversations will continue until ULSA is satisfied.
The President of the University of Liberia, Prof. Dr. Layli Maparyan, addressed the ULSA General Assembly on the UL Fendall campus on Friday, August 29, 2025, after listening to various issues presented by the Association.
“We’ve had a number of productive conversations, but I won’t say satisfying conversation because you’re not satisfied yet and until you are, we haven’t finished,” President Maparyan told the staff assembly.
President Maparyan, the Vice President for Administration, Benetta Joko Tarr, along with other senior officials, graced the assembly.
While appreciating ULSA for providing her with its 2024 salary disparity report upon taking over as President, the UL President said she also wanted to do her own investigation about salary disparities to understand them.
“And between the conversations I’ve had with you and the conversation with ULFA [University of Liberia Faculty Association], I have gotten to know a lot about salaries at UL,” she explained.
In planning for 2026, President Maparyan said the priority is to find a way to raise people’s salaries starting with the bottom. Meanwhile, she said people may have different salaries based on their credentials, their education, and their experience.
Addressing insurance, transportation, and other issues that ULSA raised, President Maparyan said that out of US$100 needed to pay all the bills to vendors for the insurance, the buses, and all the other issues that everybody wants, the University only got US$10.
“And so we are working out how to increase the amount we have available to pay those different vendors and also to make sure that we can keep them taking care of you even when there’s a struggle going on. So that’s the conversation,” she explained.
She assured ULSA that she will talk with NASSCORP about what needs to be done to get this situation straightened out, and give people the confidence that their contributions are going in and will be able to retire.
Outlining ULSA’s unresolved issues earlier, E. Martin Weah, Secretary General, said salary disparity remains the most critical and pressing issue on their agenda. Weah explained that ULSA began formal negotiations with the UL Administration to resolve this in December 2021.
He lamented increased difficulties with adequate and reliable coverage of medical insurance for all staff.
The Association further said it is actively organizing the data of inconsistency in addressing concerns related to the timely remittance and management of social security benefits with the UL Administration and the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP).
Additionally, Weah stressed the need for a reliable and affordable transportation system for staff.
“Your leadership is compiling data on these issues and will be presenting a consolidated position to the administration in the coming weeks,” he informed the assembly.
ULSA President, Dee Preston, told his colleagues and the UL Administration that these are not mere complaints, but they are justifiable calls for action.
“They are the basics for a stable, motivated, and world-class workforce. Madam President, your presence here signals a commitment to partnership. We are confident that by working together with open minds and a shared commitment to the greatness of this University we can find lasting solutions,” Preston said.
In a passionate appeal, ULSA spokesman, James H. Adams, asked Dr. Maparyan to look at the issues presented to the University Administration and address them.
He, however, commended the University Administration for providing a comfortable bus for the David A. Straz-Sinje Campus.
“I’m so happy that this time around I can sit in one of the buses … Fully AC,” said Adams.