Bomba Dauda
Her Ladyship Hon. Justice O.A. Obaseki-Osaghae of National Industrial Court (2) sitting in Abuja, yesterday, issued a perpetual injunction restraining the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru El-rufai from interfering in the affairs or management of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, of the state chapter.
In her judgment she declared that, the Registrar of Trade Unions to the exclusion of the 1st to 3rd Defendants (Gov. Nasiru El-rufai and Kaduna State Basic Education, respectively) has the statutory powers to order any investigation, cause to audit and probe the finances, scheme, and or any account whatsoever operated by the Claimant (Nigeria Union of Teachers Kaduna State chapter).
Adding that, the Registrar of Trade Unions to exclusion of the 1st to 3rd defendants has the statutory powers to prosecute and/or file a civil suit against any individual for any alleged offence committed or infractions against the finances, scheme or any account operated by the Claimant Trade Union.
She went further saying, the Governor of Kaduna State or any organs of the Government of Kaduna State lack the constitutional and/or statutory vires to interfere with and or direct the manner in which the Claimant Trade Union shall manage its finances/accounts and or any scheme operated by it.
And that the Government of Kaduna State and its organs especially the 3rd Defendant is bound to deduct union dues from the salary of the members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, in its employment and remit same to the Claimant through its Kaduna State Wing within a reasonable time.
The Government of Kaduna State and its organs especially the 3rd Defendant by its conduct in the entire circumstances of this suit is duty bound to deduct the Endwell subscription fee from the salaries of the members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Kaduna State Wing who have subscribed to the Endwell Scheme and remit same to the claimant through its Kaduna State Wing.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants whether acting by themselves or through their officials, servants, agents or privies from interfering in any manner whatsoever with the internal running and management of the affairs of the Claimant and any scheme, account, operated by it through its officers, and/or agents, in its Kaduna State Wing.
An order setting aside any directive, audit report, or any report regarding the internal affairs and management of the Claimant, and/or any scheme/account managed by its Kaduna State Wing at the instance of the 1st to 3rd Defendants.
It will be recalled that the Claimant states that the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance in a surreptitious and unilateral manner appointed PFK Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers as Consultants to carry out a review of Endwell Scheme; and the 3rd defend appointed Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) to carry out a financial review of its Endwell Scheme. The Claimant states that it resisted this action by protesting the interference. That as a result of its protest the Kaduna State Executive Council directed the 2nd Defendant (The Attorney General of Kaduna State) to initiate criminal proceedings against its officials who are alleged to have defrauded teachers through the Endwell Scheme; and directed the office of the Special Adviser Media and Communication to publicize its decision in an attempt to incite the public and teachers against the Union and its officials. The Claimant states that the 3rd Defendant has failed to deduct union dues, and Endwell subscription dues from the salaries of primary school teachers and remit to it.
Counsel to NUT, Barr. Sam Atung (SAN designate), says, the Court displays the fact that it is still the hope of the oppressed.
