11 Years Later: Sacked NCAA Worker Wins Court Case

A National Industrial Court has nullified the dismissal of a former NCAA staff member, ordering reinstatement and payment of all withheld salaries after ruling that due process was not followed.

The National Industrial Court has overturned the dismissal of a former staff member of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), ruling that her termination was carried out without adherence to due disciplinary procedures.

The court held that the employee was neither properly queried nor subjected to the disciplinary processes required under the agency’s conditions of service before her dismissal.

The NCAA had argued that the claimant disobeyed a redeployment directive, bypassed reporting channels, and absented herself from duty without approval. However, the court rejected this defence, stating that established internal procedures were not followed.

Delivering judgment, Justice S. Danjidda noted that the NCAA operates under statutory provisions derived from the Civil Aviation Act, meaning its employment framework carries legal protections that must be strictly observed.

The court ruled that the dismissal was unlawful, null and void, and ordered the reinstatement of the claimant to her position.

It further directed the NCAA to pay all outstanding salaries and entitlements withheld during the period of her dismissal.

However, the court declined to grant her request for litigation costs.

The judgment effectively ends a legal dispute that lasted more than a decade, underscoring the judiciary’s position that statutory agencies must comply fully with established disciplinary procedures when taking actions against employees.