21/11/2025
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), has cleared the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) of several allegations made against him in a staff petition submitted in September 2025.
The petition had accused the Chairman of intimidation, abuse of office, failure to provide essential work resources, maladministration, mismanagement of Commission facilities, and possible corruption-related practices.
According to a public notice issued by the Ministry, the investigation reviewed the petition alongside the Chairman’s written response and additional supporting documents provided by staff. On 11th November 2025, the Ministry convened a meeting with TEC staff and Commissioners, a representative from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and the Director of Employment from the Ministry of Labour to present its evidence-based findings.
The Ministry reported that the TEC Act clearly separates the responsibilities of the Chairman and the Executive Secretary. Evidence confirmed that all administrative and expenditure requests originated from the Executive Secretary and were only forwarded to the Chairman for approval.
Although the TEC Act of 2025 does not explicitly define the role of a Vote Controller, the Ministry relied on guidance from the Public Financial Management Act of 2016. Documents provided by staff showed that all financial requests were initiated by the Executive Secretary, pointing instead to gaps in oversight on his part.
The Ministry also found no irregularity in the allocation of office space or the provision of an official vehicle to the Chairman, stating both were consistent with the responsibilities and established privileges of Commission Chairpersons.
On procurement concerns, the Ministry confirmed that a request for sole-sourcing a capital project did not receive a “No Objection” from the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) and was therefore never implemented. The request originated from the Executive Secretary, and there was no evidence that he acted on directives from the Chairman.
Although the Ministry noted the absence of a fully functional Procurement Unit an institutional weakness requiring urgent attentionit highlighted that NPPA and Audit Service Sierra Leone audits over the last six years revealed no adverse procurement findings.
The investigation further determined that the decision to reallocate funds from “recurrent” to “capital” expenditure was made collectively by the Commission, undermining claims of unilateral decisions by the Chairman. Allegations related to the Chairman’s leave allowance were deemed matters requiring clarification from the Audit Service Sierra Leone and Njala University.
Accreditation and Mandate Claims Unsubstantiated
The Ministry found no evidence supporting claims that the Chairman used personal affiliations to influence the accreditation of institutions. It also clarified that decisions regarding monetized fuel rates applied across the Commission, not solely to the Chairman.
Institutional Weaknesses Identified
While clearing the Chairman of multiple allegations, the Ministry acknowledged longstanding systemic governance and fiduciary weaknesses within TEC. To address these shortcomings, it recommended a Management and Functional Review aimed at strengthening institutional processes, improving oversight, and clarifying roles.
Chairman to Resume Duties
Based on the evidence presented—including documents submitted by petitioning staff—the Ministry concluded that several of the allegations lacked substance. As a result, it advised that the Chairman resume his duties to ensure continuity and effective governance at the Commission.
The Ministry further advised that any staff members who remain dissatisfied or believe further investigation is necessary should submit their concerns to the Anti-Corruption Commission, the statutory body responsible for probing corruption-related matters.
Reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the integrity and effectiveness of TEC, the Ministry encouraged all staff to uphold professionalism, integrity, and adherence to established procedures as efforts continue to stabilise and strengthen the institution.
