Monrovia – The Ministry of Labour has discovered the Nationwide Port Authority (NPA) accountable for the wrongful dismissal of its former comptroller, Gabriel S. Bull, and has ordered his reinstatement or compensation totaling over $280,000.
By: Victoria G. Wesseh
In a ruling delivered on Friday, June 20, 2025, Boikai A. Sheriff, Director and Listening to Officer of the Division of Labour Requirements on the Ministry of Labour, concluded that Mr. Bull was terminated with out due course of. The ruling adopted a proper criticism filed by Bull via his authorized counsel, Cllr. Arthur T. Johnson.
“After a cautious commentary of the witnesses’ testimonies, proof adduced throughout trial, and the encompassing circumstances, the Ministry holds the conviction that the complainant was wrongfully discharged by the Nationwide Port Authority,” Director Sheriff said within the ruling.
He ordered that Mr. Bull be reinstated with all entitlements and advantages as if he had by no means been dismissed. Alternatively, the NPA is to pay him compensation equal to 24 months of wage, gasoline arrears from December 2020 to March 2024, scratch card arrears from March 2021 to March 2024, and rice arrears from April 2023 to March 2024.
The compensation breakdown consists of $156,000 in wage (primarily based on $6,500 per 30 days), $59,655.60 for 13,620 gallons of gasoline, $64,100 for 12,820 scratch playing cards, and $1,190 for 70 luggage of 25kg rice, totaling $280,945.60.
The Labour Ministry emphasised that its determination was primarily based on the shortage of proof exhibiting that Mr. Bull had been correctly investigated or discovered responsible of any wrongdoing previous to his dismissal. In keeping with Director Sheriff, Liberian labor regulation requires a office investigation earlier than an worker could be terminated for alleged offenses.
The NPA claimed Mr. Bull was dismissed for monetary improprieties and administrative violations beneath Article 5, Part 2(a) of its worker handbook, which covers gross negligence resulting in monetary loss. Nonetheless, the Ministry dominated that no investigation was carried out to assist the allegations, making the dismissal illegal.
Mr. Bull, who served the NPA for over 18 uninterrupted years, testified that he held the place of Comptroller from December 18, 2022, to March 11, 2024. He advised the Ministry that on March 8, 2024, he was known as late at evening by the Deputy Managing Director for Administration to lift a test for the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) on the port headquarters.
Upon arriving on the workplace round midnight, Mr. Bull stated preparations weren’t made to activate the generator, stopping him and his staff from finishing the duty. Regardless of the failed request, he was stunned to obtain a WhatsApp message on March 10, 2024, informing him of his dismissal, allegedly introduced via a broadcast on the Spoon Community.
Mr. Bull stated he reported to work the next Monday and carried out his regular duties till 3:45 p.m., when he acquired an official memorandum notifying him of his termination on grounds of monetary improprieties. He contended that the method violated the NPA’s personal inside procedures, which require an investigation earlier than termination.
Throughout his testimony, Mr. Bull additionally claimed that the dismissal was meant to disclaim him his entitlements, together with arrears in gasoline, communication scratch playing cards, and rice provides. He said that he had by no means been audited or investigated throughout his tenure and believed the termination was an try and deprive him of advantages accrued over 19 years of service.
