Press Statement
8th December 2024
- We act on behalf of our clients Professor Matarr Njie and Dr. Alieu Gibba, purportedly dismissed lecturers from the University of The Gambia (UTG). Our clients have drawn to our attention public statements made by two cabinet ministers in a press conference on Friday the 6th day of December 2024, namely; Ismaila Ceesay, Minister for Information and Pierre Gomez, Minister for Higher Education. Essentially the statements bordered on pinning liability on our clients for lack of cooperation in reaching a resolution on the perceived deadlock between our clients and the UTG.
- In light of the legal intricacies and realities of this matter our clients have instructed us to respond to the said allegations to ensure that the public is well-informed and guided in forming an opinion on the said allegation.
- At the outset, we find the statements by the said cabinet ministers to be anomalous and quite an overstatement in the following regard:
- The initiative to settle the dispute at the vice president’s office, whilst commendable, excluded our clients from the equation. Our clients were never invited to the said meetings nor was there participation sought. Meanwhile the other party, the University of The Gambia participated and was always represented. It is important to note that the participation of the University of The Gambia Staff Association in the said deliberations is not a substitute to our clients’ full and informed participation in the process.
- It appears the main outcome of the deliberations at the vice president’s office was the setting-up of an independent review committee tasked with a review of the matter and report within 72hrs.It would probably raise eyebrows that the full and thorough investigation of such a complex matter would be pegged at 72hrs. In any event, our clients had already indicated in express, clear and unequivocal terms that whilst open to negotiation, this process can only flourish after their reinstatement and adequate compensation. Thereafter, they remain fully committed to cooperating with an impartial and independent disciplinary body to determine the allegations against them by the UTG.
- In the aftermath of the setting up of the review committee chaired by the labour department, our clients were invited on 24hrs notice to attend a meeting. Our clients sought legal advice and we cautioned them against participating in a process whose perceived TOR cuts across issues that were already pending for determination before a judicial tribunal. We however, encouraged them that should the UTG be willing to engage in an Alternative dispute resolution initiative to settle the matter, our clients stand and remain ready to engage in such a discourse. The decision therefore to not participate in the work of the review committee was based on genuine and principled reasons which was duly communicated to the committee in successive and direct correspondence between them and our clients.
- Finally, whilst we acknowledge and welcome the initiative of various stakeholders in resolving this dispute including the Government of The Gambia, it is imperative we do so with the utmost regard for the principle of fair hearing and the pending full and independent judicial process on this matter.
Thank you for your kind attention on this very important matter.
Signed: Malick H.B Jallow Esq.
Legal Representative for Professor Matarr Njie and Dr. Alieu Gibba
