The Case Against Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah (Associate Professor) Department of History and African Studies, Fourah Bay College (USL) Presented to The Court of the University of Sierra Leone on Wednesday 13th July, 2016
1.0 Background
1.1 Following persistent reports of insubordination, acts of indiscipline, negative attitude to work, lack of participation in the affairs of the Department of History and African Studies, refusal to teach assigned courses and breaches of the employment contract, and Code of Discipline for Senior Members of Staff, made against Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah, I took action to invite him for a discussion.
1.2 During our meeting I appealed to him to cooperate with his colleagues in the Department, and to contribute to achieving the mandates of the University. My appeal was for a change of attitude on the part of Dr. Abdullah, and maintenance of a conducive working environment in the Department.
1.3 Following our meeting the reports which I received from the Head of Department indicated that Dr. Abdullah was “neither ready nor willing to change his behaviour”. It was reported that he had breached his employment contract, the Code of Discipline for Senior Members of Staff;
- refused to teach courses assigned to him by the Head of Department;
- failed to attend meetings of the Department;
- refused to heed the advice of, and admonition by the Head of Fourah Bay College (the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor);
- disrespected his colleagues and the principles of collegiality;
- refused to accept an offer of appointment as head of department without any reason;
- intimidated students;
- failed to respond to some letters of query;
2.0 Appointment of an Investigating Committee.
2.1 In view of the above adverse reports against Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah, the University Appointments Committee was unable to renew his appointment when it came up for renewal; he had not been recommended by his Head of Department. According to the Head of Department (Dr. S. N. Spencer), “he was not satisfactorily performing his teaching responsibilities and not cooperating in other departmental activities”. The Appointments Committee was informed that he had been queried by the Head of Department, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, where the Department of History and African Studies Is domiciled.
2.2 To establish an informed basis for decision making the Appointments Committee constituted an investigating committee to look into the conduct of Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah.
2.3 During its deliberations the Committee considered reports made against Dr. Abdullah by the Head of Department of History and African Studies, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Fourah Bay College. The Committee was informed that Dr. Adbullah:
- Did not participate in the activities of the Department;
- Refused to teach courses assigned to him by the Head of Department;
- Shouted at students who failed to answer his questions correctly and called them ‘stupid’; consequently many students voted with their feet resulting in the shrinking of his class size. Students did not choose his modules because they were afraid of him;
- He was hostile and rude to visitors who had called to make enquires at the department;
- He behaved rudely to messengers who had gone to the department to deliver mails;
- Failed to get along with colleagues because he disrespected them;
- Unable to work as a team member;
- Always saw problems but not solutions;
3.0 Findings of the Committee
3.1 The Committee found that Dr. Abdullah was not ready to take up any administrative responsibility in the Department of History and African Studies.
3.2 His attitude towards his colleagues has been unprofessional.
3.3 He turned down an offer of appointment as head of department.
3.4 He failed to teach courses assigned to him.
3.5 He disrespected the authority of the Head of Department.
3.6 He verbally abused students.
3.7 Due to the shrinking of his class size and refusal to teach other courses assigned to him he became virtually underemployed thus receiving remuneration which he was not earning.
3.8 He breached the Code of Discipline for Senior Members of Staff and his employment contract.
4.0 Recommendations
4.1 Renewal of Dr. Abdullah’s appointment should be withheld for a period of 6 (six) months.
4.2 The Department of History and African Studies should be reorganized with rapt attention to the following:-
(a) Recruitment of faculty with “the right academic caliber and attitude”;
(b) Curriculum review with stakeholder participation;
(c) Equipping of the departmental library with current books, journals and other learning and teaching resources;
(d) Re-introduction of the Honours History undergraduate course.
4.3 The recommendation was acted on and Dr. Abdullah was offered a one year appointment (not six months as recommended by the Committee).
5.0 Offer of Appointment
Based on the recommendations of the committee that Dr. Abdullah’s renewal should be withheld for a period of 6 (six) months during which time his work should be supervised and monitored closely by the Head of Department and that any infraction on his part should be reported in writing to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Fourah Bay College), the Registrar of the University offered Dr. Abdullah a one-year appointment.
6.0 Dr. Abdullah’s Reaction to the Offer of Appointment
6.1 On receipt of the letter of offer of appointment Dr. Abdullah wrote an insulting letter to the Registrar, copied to the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal.
6.2 The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal invited Dr. Abdullah to his office and told him that his letter was at variance with the decorum of the University and advised him to withdraw it. He told him that his right to reject the offer was not in question but that it should be exercised with respect.
6.3 He was further informed that if he did not withdraw the letter and accept the offer of a one-year appointment, his salary would be suspended because there would be no basis for remuneration in the absence of a contract.
6.4 He informed him further that the relevant section of the Universities Act would be invoked and that the Court (the Employing Authority), would be requested to take appropriate action against him.
7.0 Conclusion
Mr. Deputy Chairman and Members of Court, we are at the cross roads at the University of Sierra Leone. Errant faculty and staff must be called to account because without discipline the work of the University cannot be done effectively and efficiently.
7.1 The case before you is one of:
ü Gross insubordination;
ü Disrespect for constituted authority;
ü Refusal to teach;
ü Intimidation and verbal abuse of students;
ü non attendance at meetings and non-participation in the activities of the Department of History and African Studies, Fourah Bay College;
8.0 Action Required by Court
Court is required to take action against Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah in accordance with Chapter XI Section 30 of the Universities Act 2005.
DR IBRAHIM ABDULLAH’S APPOINTMENT TERMINATED
The Court of the University of Sierra Leone, at its regular meeting on Wednesday 13th July, 2016 terminated the appointment of DR. IBRAHIM ABDULLAH (Associate Professor).
(C) Politico 15/07/16
