By: Aja Beyai
The University of The Gambia Faculty Staff Association (UTGFSA) has announced a planned sit-down strike starting Monday, December 2, 2024, due to unresolved issues regarding two of their colleagues, Dr. Alieu Gibba and Prof. Matarr Njie’s dismissals and promotions.
This decision follows the Extraordinary Congress’s efforts to address these pressing matters and the recent stakeholder meetings at the Vice President’s Office.
The leadership of UTGFSA is focused on three key resolutions: reinstating dismissed colleagues, resolving the delayed 2023 promotions, and opening a new application window for those who missed the 2024 promotion deadline.
Agreements were made on the latter two points during meetings on November 28 and 30, but the reinstatement of dismissed colleagues remains a contentious issue.
In a statement regarding the strike, the UTGFSA leadership emphasized, “We are committed to advocating for the rights of our dismissed colleagues. The stakeholders’ insistence on withdrawing the court case before negotiations can proceed is unacceptable.”
They expressed that the ongoing deadlock has left them with no choice but to take this action to ensure their voices are heard.
Police have warned about the planned strike, stating, “Protests or public gatherings without the necessary permit are illegal and will not be tolerated.”
They added, “This act of defiance poses a serious threat to public order, peace, and safety.” The police further clarified, “It is illegal for any person(s) to occupy public spaces to protest or demonstrate without obtaining a police permit,” and warned, “Any individual or group found participating in an unauthorized protest without a permit will face the full force of the law.”
The planned sit-down strike may halt all academic and administrative activities within the university until further notice. The leadership stated, “This strike reflects our solidarity and determination to uphold the resolutions from our Congress.”
