Court orders Adamawa govt to pay sacked teachers N660m

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) yesterday ordered the Adamawa State government to pay N660 million to 659 teachers sacked by the state Post Primary Board.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the teachers had sued the state government, seeking a declaration that their appointment was valid and lawful, having worked for a period of 29 months.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the Ministry of Education, Post Primary School Management Board, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state.

They also sought a declaration that they were entitled to the payment of their salaries, allowances and entitlements totaling N638.9 million.

In his judgement, Justice Nelson Ogbuanya of the Yola division said the state government failed to provide evidence that the teachers were disengaged.

He held that the teachers remained lawful employees of the state government from August 2012 till date.

Justice Ogbuanya also ordered the government to pay them their 29 months’ salaries within two weeks.

He also ordered government to pay another N22 million to the teachers as damages for failing to pay them salaries for the period under review.

The judge deplored the action of some employers who trampled on peoples’ dignity of labour.