Governments seem to act in mysterious ways. Now, teachers in a government-owned demonstration school in Rivers State have gone without salaries since the closing days of the Nyesom Wike administration. The court recently ordered the present administration to pay them, yet no response.
Now, Rivers State Civil Society Organizations (RIVCO) has called on Gov Sim Fubara to implement the Court of Appeal judgment restoring the salaries, rights, and privileges of staff members of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Demonstration School.
The call was made during a press briefing on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, organized by RIVCO at its secretariat in the D-Line area of Port Harcourt.
Addressing journalists, Chairman of the organization, Enefa Georgewill, said the demand had become necessary because the state government had yet to act more than three months after the appellate court delivered its judgment.
Georgewill expressed concern over the hardship faced by the affected workers, noting that they had endured about 10 years without salaries.
He explained that the matter originated from the National Industrial Court and subsequently proceeded to the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/PH/341/2022, where the court ruled in favour of the affected teachers.
According to him, the continued delay in implementing the ruling is particularly troubling given the governor’s earlier commitment to respect and implement judicial decisions on the matter.
RIVCO urged the state government to act in the interest of justice and the rule of law by restoring the affected workers to their positions and entitlements.
The organization specifically called for the restoration of their academic ranks, salaries, grade levels, promotions, salary arrears and other benefits as if the breach had not occurred.
It also urged the government to extend the effect of the ruling to staff members of the Rivers State University Demonstration Schools, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic and other institutions whose cases were still before the courts, where the subject matter and reliefs sought were substantially similar.
Georgewill said RIVCO would prefer an amicable resolution and was not interested in taking actions that could embarrass the state government.
He, however, warned that continued inaction could compel the civil society group to mobilize alongside the affected workers to Government House to draw attention to their plight.
Georgewill appealed to Governor Fubara to use the matter to leave a lasting legacy by addressing the workers’ grievances, stressing that they had endured severe hardship while relying on the judiciary for justice.
Related News
