Tubman University Unhappy With Budget Cut

By Alex Yomah

Tubman University‘s authorities on  Friday, August 23, 2019, expressed displeasure due to what  it called  drastic deduction  of its budget by government’s fiscal managers in the 2019-2020 draft budget .

Tubman University’s authorities appealed  to  members of the  Joint Budget Committee  to  use  its  authority given by Article 34 (d) to ensure that the US$1.1 million United States dollars deducted from  the TU’s  budget  by the Ministry of Finance, Development and Planning (MFDP)  be  added.

Defending the Tubman University‘s budget  in Joint Chambers of the Legislature Friday, the University President,  Dr. D. Elliot Wreh-Wilson explained that despite the  huge  gap  faced the T.U. in ensuring  the President’s Free Tuition  policy  work considering the  prevailing financial  hurdles,  the   Ministry of  Finance reduced  US$1.1m  out of  previous budget.   

Dr. Wreh-Wilson said,   government through the Ministry of Finance had  allotted US$4.3 million United States dollars in the 2018-2019,  but unfortunately the University  did not receive in full  what was allotted instead,  received little over US$3m, the situation  which  the school authorities  noted  created lots of liabilities.

He said with the cut in the University’s budget, there will be   what he referred to as unabated noise that he, who is the president will not be able to control.  He has however, craved the country’s fiscal managers to ensure that support to Education to the University is adequate.

As part of the University’s expenses Dr. Wreh-Wilson said, “We provide housing for faculty, many of whom are ex-patriots. If we lose this budget, we might have to face difficulties, the likes of which we have yet to see at Tubman University. It is not my wish to have to lay workers or cancel programs   or send students home.”

At present, the Proffer disclosed that some instructors have threatened to search for better opportunities for better salaries which he claimed will create a setback for the school.

According to the University President of the Republic of Liberia, George Weah is passionate of providing tertiary education for all Liberians regardless of geographic localities, noting, his visions and aspirations can only be achieved when the fiscal managers can create the needed avenues to support his policies.        

The Tubman University President said due to the immense challenges, he had requested at least US$6 million United dollars which he believes would help to mitigate some of the challenges and increase more enrollment at the University in this academic semester.