Yenagoa—A National Industrial Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ordered the
immediate reinstatement of employees of the Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma and Isaac Jasper College of Education, Sagbama, who were sacked in 2018 under the Seriake Dickson-led state government.
It was reported that the workers were allegedly sacked by the then state government because the institutions were over-staffed.
But some of the sacked workers, however, claimed that they were retired from service by the management of the institution following the civil service rule and not sacked contrary to widespread reports.
However, according to reports by Vanguard newspaper, the National Industrial Court presided over by Justice Attahiru Alkli, ruled that the termination was null and void, baseless, and was not carried out through due processes, thus the employees be reinstated with their full benefits duly paid.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Boma Miebai and Emmanuel Essien, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, stating that justice had been served and promised to ensure that the ruling is implemented.
Similarly, leaders of the disengaged staff from NDU and COE, Isiki Ebidoki and Lawrence Kokobaikeme, also expressed happiness that judgment was given in their favour, following what they described as a baseless dismissal.
They called on the state government to honour the ruling of the court and reinstate the dismissed workers.
It was gathered that some of the dismissed staff, Pauline Blessing and Tom Friday, lamented that the dismissal caused them suffering and pain.
They narrated that life became unbearable when they could no longer afford to cater to their families, but prayed to the state government to swiftly implement the court ruling.
