National Industrial Court Orders Reinstatement of Dismissed Rivers State University Lecturer

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the reinstatement of Professor Tamunonimim A. Ngerebo-a, a former lecturer of Rivers State University (RSU), years after he was dismissed from the institution over allegations of misconduct.
The judgment, delivered by Justice E. I. Kola-Olalere, ruled that the dismissal of the professor did not comply with the regulations governing his employment at the university. The court therefore declared the termination unlawful and directed the institution to restore him to his academic position.

Professor Tamunonimim A. Ngerebo-a served in the Department of Banking and Finance under the Faculty of Management Sciences at Rivers State University. In 2019, the university’s governing council approved his dismissal following allegations linked to a “money-for-marks” scandal.
The allegations claimed that the professor demanded or received money from students in exchange for improving their academic grades. After an internal investigation by the university authorities, disciplinary action was taken which led to the termination of his appointment.
Disagreeing with the decision, Professor Ngerebo-a approached the National Industrial Court, challenging the dismissal and arguing that the disciplinary process violated the university’s established rules and denied him fair hearing.

After reviewing the arguments and evidence presented, the National Industrial Court ruled that Rivers State University failed to follow due process in dismissing the lecturer.
Justice Kola-Olalere held that the disciplinary procedure adopted by the university did not strictly comply with the institution’s regulations governing staff discipline and employment. As a result, the court declared the dismissal invalid.
The court subsequently ordered that Professor Ngerebo-a be reinstated to his position at Rivers State University with full restoration of his employment rights and privileges.
Payment of Salaries and Benefits
In addition to reinstatement, the court directed the university to pay all outstanding salaries and allowances owed to the professor from October 10, 2019, the date the dismissal took effect.
The judgment further stated that the payments should be made within a specified period and that the lecturer should be considered eligible for promotion in line with the university’s procedures after completing the required period following his reinstatement.

Following the court’s decision, both parties reportedly agreed on terms of settlement, bringing the legal dispute to an end. The agreement effectively resolves the long-running case between the professor and the university.

The ruling underscores the importance of due process in disciplinary actions within Nigerian universities and other public institutions. It also highlights the role of the National Industrial Court in protecting the rights of employees and ensuring that employers comply with established laws and institutional regulations.
Legal experts note that the judgment may serve as a reminder to universities across Nigeria to strengthen their disciplinary procedures while ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with statutory guidelines.