Court orders reinstatement of sacked 800 varsity, college workers in Bayelsa

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Yenagoa Division, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of 800 employees of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma, and Isaac Jasper College of Education, Sagbama, who were dismissed from service in 2018 by the Bayelsa State Government.

Some of the sacked workers who were relieved of their duties were alleged to have been redundant, while others were declared overaged by the Chief Seriake Dickson-led administration which claimed that they were retired from service in accordance with the civil service rules.

But the National Industrial Court presided over by Justice Attahiru Alkli, held that the termination was null and void, baseless and was not carried out according to due processes, thus the employees be reinstated with their full benefits duly paid.

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Counsels to the plaintiffs, Barrister Boma Miebai and Barrister Emma Essien, while expressing satisfaction with the judgement, said justice has been served and promised to ensure that the ruling is implemented.

On their part, leaders of the disengaged staff from NDU and COE, Isiki Ebidoki and Lawrence Kokobaikeme, while expressing joy that the judgement was given in their favour, following what they described as a baseless dismissal. They further called on the State Government to honour the ruling of the National Industrial Court.

Other disengaged staff, Pauline Blessing and Tom Friday lamented that the dismissal caused their members pain and depression as a lot of them lost their lives when they could no longer afford to cater for their families and prayed the state government to swiftly implement the court ruling.

On his part, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, NDU Chapter, Comrade Brambayefa Lucky, lauded the court judgement, saying the dismissal was purely political.