An Analysis of Consistency of Disciplinary Decision-Making at a Federal Government-Owned University in Nigeria

Abstract

Discipline is essential in any workplace. It curbs the excesses of employees who have deviant attitudes, instills order in workplaces, and enhances productivity and general outputs, if implemented properly. However, in recent times there has been a rising spate of reactions against perceived inconsistent disciplinary decisionmaking in most universities in Nigeria. Many employees who experience disciplinary processes complain of inconsistencies, and some of these employees have resorted to civil litigation at public courts of law. The consequences have affected universities time, finances and other resources, including public embarrassment that both the university and the concerned employee are prone to as a result. It is against this backdrop that this article undertakes an analysis of consistency of disciplinary decision-making in a federal government-owned university in Nigeria. The objective of the article is to ascertain if disciplinary decision-making at the case university was consistent. As a qualitative analysis, the article relied on primary (interview) and secondary (journals, text books, law reports, etc.) sources of data, which were thematically analysed. It was shown that disciplinary decision-making in the case university is largely consistent with extant disciplinary rules and with precedents of earlier disciplinary decisions. However, among others, it is recommended that, improved publicity and transparency, regular induction and orientation programmes for staff on rules could enhance the perceived consistency of disciplinary decision-making at the case university.