UL Hits Back at “False Retirement Rumors,” Assures No Mass Staff Exit
- Michael T
- Sep 7
- 2 min read
The University of Liberia has denied reports that hundreds of its employees face imminent forced retirement, saying media claims of up to 200 staff being pushed out were false and intended to spread panic.
In a statement issued Sunday, the university’s administration said it was not forcing employees into retirement but was cleaning up payrolls as part of a wider budget adjustment requested by the government earlier this year.
“The University of Liberia categorically denounces false media reports suggesting that about 200 employees of the UL are slated for forced retirement,” the statement read. “Such false reports are simply intended to cause unnecessary panic and ill-sentiment among employees.”
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in March directed the university to reduce the share of its annual budget spent on personnel costs from 90% to 55% to free up more funds for operations. A headcount provided in July by the General Auditing Commission is now being used to verify the university’s payroll and remove irregularities such as duplicate names, ghost workers, and job abandoners.
The audit also supplied a list of staff whose age or years of service put them beyond the statutory retirement threshold for civil service employees. But the university noted that civil service law applies differently to faculty and administrative staff.
The administration confirmed it will review age and service records to ensure compliance with Liberian law. However, it stressed that any retirement decisions would follow consultations with the employees involved and would not be disclosed publicly before discussions take place.
“Any changes in job status related to retirement will be thoroughly discussed with affected employees and will not be published publicly,” the statement said.
University President Layli Maparyan, who has pledged to modernize the institution and improve efficiency, has called for transparency in reshaping the university. The administration condemned the circulation of spreadsheets containing private employee data that were linked to the disputed retirement reports.
“The UL Administration considers it reprehensible that a few individuals chose to generate fake news and cause anxiety in the public by publishing manufactured spreadsheets with illegally obtained private data of citizens,” the statement said, adding that those responsible would be held accountable.
The clarification comes amid concern among university employees about possible cuts as Liberia’s largest public university faces constraints with balancing its payroll-heavy budget against demands for improved infrastructure and research facilities.
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