The defense lawyer of the teachers dismissed by the ministry of education in Lakes State has written to the employees’ justice chamber questioning the legality of the dismissal.
On Monday, the minister of general education and instruction in the State issued a ministerial order sacking four teachers arrested in June for demanding a pay rise.
They include Alfred Ater Ariau, Emmanuel Mapuor Mabor, Ater Samuel Ahou, and Ruben Majak Nhial.
The four were part of 39 teachers who were initially detained in Rumbek’s Panda Military Barracks on 20 June for 65 days before they were remanded to Rumbek Central Prison and later arraigned in court.
However, on August 23, the court in Rumbek dismissed the case against the teachers and awarded them SSP 20 million each as compensation.
The defense lawyer of the teachers Malith Jokthiang Wundit told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that his law firm, the humanity law chambers, has written a letter to the employees’ justice chamber to follow up on the case.
“We are preparing a letter to the employee’s justice chamber today (Monday). I have to follow up on my case with the ministry of education through the employees’ justice chamber,” he said.
Wundit said any decision involving a dispute between employees of any entity must go to the employee’s justice chamber.
“The employees’ justice chamber was established to advocate on matters of employee’s grievances, particularly public civil servants within the state,” he added.
Wundit said he believes the state education minister was not pleased with the court ruling by acquitting the teachers.
“I think the minister of education, Nelson Makoi Makur, was not pleased with the decision made by the court, and the minister was not also pleased with the notice. I served them with a notice in September, demanding compensation for the teachers.”