By George K. Momo
MONROVIA, Oct. 24 (LINA) – The administration of the Lofa County University has submitted a budget proposal of over $3.5 million United States Dollars to cover the university’s operations, including teachers’ hiring and staff salary increment.
Dr. Isaac Podah, President of the university appeared before the budget committee on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 in Monrovia reported that the school’s administration justifiably expanded the last budget allocated to the institution, bringing significant transformation to the university.
He disclosed that the Lofa County University constructed pathways to enhance students’ movement, constructed a modern lunch facility, and embarked on agriculture initiatives, including cocoa planting and fish farming, among others.
Additionally, Dr. Podah spoke of the establishment of an annex for the Lofa University in Zorzor, Lofa County, to decentralize students’ accommodation.
“What we said was 3.5, but in that 3.5, we took into consideration some of our lecturers. We encouraged them and they went and upgraded themselves. So, they got Masters. Now that they have come with their Masters, we need to upgrade their salaries” he stated.
He emphasized that the staff salary should commensurate with their qualification, something he indicated is not the case and remains a challenge.
He disclosed that the entire 2024, the guys went without their just salary despite having Masters adding they are still taking partial salary stressing the need for the government through the relevant authority to see reason to increase the university budget for smooth operations among others.
He told the executive budget hearing committee that the university is also losing lecturers to other universities due to low salaries noting that professionals can only be maintained when their salaries are in line with their qualification and the job they do.
“That is why we are also losing lecturers to Tubman University. Three professors have left already. We have lost a lecturer to Tubman University. We lost lecturers to other entities,” he lamented.
The university president justified that a budget of about 3.5 million United States Dollars, if approved, will largely help the institution in addressing the hiring of additional lecturers as well as salary increment to commensurate with their qualifications.
He expressed disappointment over the recent resignation of some lecturers of the Lofa University due to lack of better salaries. The situation, he says, needs stakeholders’ immediate intervention, including the Lofa County Legislative Caucus.