 After returning to The Gambia, Jatta worked for the Curriculum Development Centre from 1978 to 1983, later as senior curriculum development officer, and was also a research fellow at the International African Institute, London from 1980 to 1982.He resigned from the government in 1986 in protest to the performance of the ruling People's Progressive Party government.Jatta founded the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism in 1986, an opposition party to ruling president Sir Dawda Jawara and was elected its first chairperson in 1987.