Court orders Police Affairs Ministry to regularise teachers salaries
National Industrial Court of Nigeria, has ordered the Ministry of Police Affairs to regularise the salaries of teachers in Police primary and secondary schools nationwide.
In a judgment delivered on Monday in Abuja, the court ordered the ministry to regularise the teachers’ salaries in accordance with the Federal Civil Service payment procedures.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment in a suit filed by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) against the ministry, the Inspector-General of Police and the Accountant General of the Federation.
Justice Lifu ordered the ministry to comply with the Industrial Arbitration Panel’s Trade Agreement reached between it and the NUT.
He declared null and void a purported suspension of a teacher, Mr Mohammed Usman, by the ministry.
Usman was purportedly suspended by the ministry for championing the course of the regularisation of their salaries.
Justice Lifu also ordered that all the outstanding salaries and entitlements due to Usman be paid within 30 days.
He said if the ministry failed to comply within the 30 days, the payment should attract 10 per cent interest rate from the date of expiration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NUT had filed the suit in 2012 seeking redress over the non-regularisation of the employment of teachers in police primary and secondary schools.
Counsel to the claimant Mr Anthony Itedjere, had argued that the appointment of some of the teachers were regularised in 2005 but without corresponding emolument.
He said that the teachers, through the NUT, had entered into trade agreement with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on regularisation of their salaries in conformity with the federal civil service.
Itedjere told the court that the agreement reached with the Labour Ministry was binding on the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
He said that the claimant approached the court in 2012 following the failure of the Ministry of Police Affairs to implement the agreement.
The defence counsel, Mr Kenneth Iwowori, had argued that the regularisation was ongoing, adding that that was responsible for the reason why the teachers had not been paid.
Reacting to the judgment, Itedjere said it was well considered by the court.
On his part, the defence lawyer said he would consult with his clients on whether to appeal the judgment or not