The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has upheld a judgment directing the Rivers State Government to pay all salary arrears owed to teachers of the Demonstration Secondary School, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), from February 2016 to date.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Monday, a three-man panel of the appellate court dismissed the state government’s appeal and granted the teachers’ cross-appeal, ordering both the Rivers State Government and the university management to settle the outstanding salaries and entitlements spanning over 10 years.
The dispute began in February 2016 when the then Governor Nyesom Wike directed the stoppage of salaries for the teachers, affecting about 97 staff members.
The teachers challenged the action at the National Industrial Court, which in 2018 ruled that the stoppage was unlawful and that they remained legitimate employees of the institution.
Counsel to the teachers, Emeka Dite Ojoko, hailed the Appeal Court verdict as a major victory for the affected teachers.
He noted that the judgment is specific to the Demonstration Secondary School, IAUOE, and does not extend to other demonstration schools in the state.
The Court of Appeal is the final court for cases originating from the National Industrial Court. No immediate reaction has been received from the Rivers State Government as of the time of this report.
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