By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The pronouncement made by the newly transferred Head of Administration at the Tertiary Education Commission, Idrissa Sannoh, that all members of staff who are aggrieved over conditions of service must be sacked served as the trigger that led to workers staging a peaceful protest, displaying placards, on 25th November 2025. The statement, which staff described as provocative and dismissive of their long-standing grievances, immediately sparked outrage and deepened concerns over what employees say is a culture of intimidation and poor leadership within the Commission.

The workers, who gathered within the precincts of the Commission in Freetown, chanted slogans and called for urgent reforms, directing much of their frustration at the Chairman of the institution, Professor Aliyageen M. Alghali. They accused the Chairman of abuse of office, lack of transparency, poor leadership practices and persistent neglect of staff welfare. Their protest followed months of mounting tension, which had earlier culminated in a formal petition submitted on 22nd September 2025 to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education. The petition highlighted what the staff described as a deep crisis of confidence in the Commission under the leadership of Professor Aliyageen M. Alghali.

Initially, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education responded by asking the aggrieved staff to provide evidence supporting their claims. But before the evidence could be formally presented during a scheduled meeting on 11th November 2025, the Ministry unexpectedly reinstated Professor Aliyageen M. Alghali on 5th November 2025. The Ministry later announced that, after reviewing the available information, it had exonerated the Chairman of wrongdoing and determined that the evidence submitted did not justify any adverse action against him.

Tensions escalated further when the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Ramatulai Wurie, addressed staff in the presence of representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Ministry of Labour. She informed them that the evidence presented lacked substance and went on to state that Professor Aliyageen M. Alghali “is a friend of my father,” a remark that immediately stirred concerns among employees about the neutrality and fairness of the Ministry’s assessment. Workers also expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as an intimidating approach from the Labour Ministry representative during the engagement.

Frustrated and unconvinced by the Ministry’s handling of their petition, members of staff reported the matter to the Parliament of Sierra Leone. They complained bitterly about the deteriorating working environment at TEC, citing a lack of internet connectivity, insufficient laptops, inadequate logistics and an overall absence of essential tools required for effective performance of their duties. The Parliamentary Committee on Technical and Higher Education subsequently summoned all relevant parties and ordered an immediate halt to all meetings or actions relating to the matter until Parliament completes its inquiry.

In a formal communication dated 21st November 2025, issued by the Clerk, Parliament directed the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, the TEC leadership and all associated bodies to suspend every activity connected to the dispute. Parliament further demanded that the Ministry submit its investigative report on the staff petition, invoking its oversight authority under Section 93 of the 1991 Constitution and Standing Orders 73(3).

It is worth noting that Professor Aliyageen M. Alghali had previously been suspended following allegations that attracted the interest of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Although the Ministry later cleared him of wrongdoing, the persistence and intensity of staff dissatisfaction point to deeper structural issues within the Commission’s governance and operational framework.

The situation, now firmly in the hands of Parliament, raises broader concerns about transparency, accountability, workplace conditions and leadership within the Tertiary Education Commission; an institution central to maintaining the quality and credibility of higher education in Sierra Leone. Many observers and sector stakeholders hope that Parliament’s intervention will pave the way for meaningful reforms and help restore trust and stability within the Commission. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/tec-workers-protest-against-management-intimidation-and-chairman-alghalis-reinstatement-call-for-independent-investigation/