ABOUT 435 staff of Ken Sarowiwa Polytechnic (formerly Rivers Polytechnic) recently sacked by the state government have dragged the government to the National Industrial Court, NIC, Port Harcourt Division, challenging their sack.

Amannah Ireju, Jekey Lekue and Oruwari Sotonye, on behalf of themselves and the others, are praying NIC to, among others, declare their employment by the state government between September 2013 and April 1 2015 valid.

They also want the court to declare that they were genuine staff of the institution, urging NIC to also declare their recent sack by the state government unlawful, seeking “a declaration that the purported termination of the claimants, employment with the defendant is unlawful, null and void and a breach of the claimants contract of employment. An order mandating the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education,

Rector/Registrar of the said Polytechnic to reinstate the 435 workers immediately and pay them all outstanding salaries forthwith.”

They also prayed the court to issue an order restraining the Registrar/Rector of the school from engaging new staff to replace them.

In the same vein, they urged the court to give an order mandating the Permanent  Secretary, Ministry of Education, and the Rector/Registrar of the school to reinstate them.

The Attorney General of Rivers State is the first defendant, while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and the Rector, Ken Sarowiwa Polytechnic, are the second and third defendants respectively.

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