CSNL Calls On The National Teachers Association Leadership To:

The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) has called on the Mary Nyumah led Leadership of the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL) to unconditionally adhere to the latest ruling of the Labour Court, which mandates the leadership to reinstate Mr. Samuel Johnson as National Secretary of the institution and pay him the retroactive salaries of Nineteen Thousand Two Hundred Eighty United States Dollars (US$19,280.00).

In a release, CSNL said it has followed with deep concerns the long-standing labour dispute between the President of the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL), Mrs. Mary W. Mulbah Nyumah, and the illegally and indefinitely suspended National Secretary General, Mr. Samuel Y. Johnson.

According to the release, the CSNL reminds the NTAL that following a full review of all documents relating to the matter, including the July 16, 2026 final ruling by His Honor, Labour Court Judge, Cllr. Joseph Kollie, which declared the indefinite suspension of Mr. Johnson as illegal, null and void, and ordered his immediate reinstatement as National Secretary General and the full payment of all his retroactive salaries amounting to Nineteen Thousand Two Hundred and Eighty United States Dollars (US$19,280.00). Therefore, CSNL asserts that the NTAL leadership unconditionally respects and adheres to the ruling of the court. The CSNL notes that the NTAL is a noble and historic institution that represents the collective interest of teachers across Liberia. Its leadership cannot and must not be seen undermining the very laws and labour standards it should be defending for its members.

The furthered that CSNL review established that the decision to indefinitely suspend Mr. Johnson, who by the NTAL Constitution is the Administrator and Head of the Secretariat, and the subsequent refusal to implement different court’s ruling, including the Labour Court’s ruling, is a gross violation of labour rights, a disregard for judicial authority, and a dangerous precedent. Defiance of a court’s ruling which upholds the right of an individual(s) has the proclivity to create violence and instability, judging from the fact that it was marginalization and  disregard for the rule of law and suppression that gave rise to Liberia’s 14 years of civil wars.

CSNL notes with dismay that this dispute, which began in February  2022, has been characterized by internal leadership wrangling, allegations of financial impropriety, and resistance to audit as raised by the National Executive Committee of NTAL itself.  Our review also revealed that Mrs. Mary W. Mulbah Nyumah and her cohorts hijacked the institution and illegally pushed aside Mr. Samuel Johnson, an internationally trained professional administrator with years of dedicated, honest, and productive service that led to the growth and progress  of the very NTAL today. As affirmed by the court, the stance of Mr. Samuel Johnson and other executives against the President, Mrs. Nyumah’s withdrawal of L$625,000.00 from the NTAL Account for personal use, her refusal to audit the association’s accounts from 2018-2022, and her unlawful conduct of the 66th National Delegates Convention, do not constitute any violation of the NTAL’S Bi-laws and Constitution to warrant Mr. Johnson’s suspension, lest to say his dismissal from the association.

The Civil  Society Network of Liberia says it sees it as disappointing and a dereliction of functions that instead of focusing on improving teachers’ welfare, negotiating better salaries, and conducive working conditions, the NTAL has been embroiled in series of avoidable and unnecessary  litigations due to the non-compliance attitude of its President. How could Mrs. Mary W. Mulbah Nyumah unilaterally suspend the National Secretary General, as confirmed and affirmed by the Labour Court’s Ruling?

In light of the Labour Court’s ruling,  the release went on, which confirmed and affirmed the ruling of the Ministry of Labour’s Labour Standards Division, the Civil Society Network of Liberia therefore calls for the followings:

That Mrs. Mary Nyumah and the Leadership of NTAL immediately and unconditionally reinstate Mr. Samuel Johnson to his rightful position as National Secretary General, in full compliance with the ruling of Labour Court Judge Cllr. Joseph Kollie; 

That the NTAL Leadership without further delay pay to Mr. Johnson his full retroactive salaries of US$19,280.00 as ordered by the court;

That the Ministry of Labour, the Liberia Labour Congress (LLM), and Education International (EI) urgently intervene in this matter to ensure full enforcement of the court’s decision;

That NTAL submits itself to a comprehensive and independent financial audit to restore confidence and accountability in the management of teachers’ dues and contributions.

The Civil Society Network of Liberia reminds the NTAL Leadership that respect for the rule of law is non-negotiable in a democratic society. No individual or institution is above the law. Continued defiance of a competent court’s ruling undermines the judiciary and tarnishes the image of the teachers’ association. Failure on the part of Mrs. Nyumah and her leadership to adhere to the Labour Court’s Ruling will compel the CSNL to petition the Labour Ministry to institute further legal actions including contempt charges, and to call on all development partners, including Education International (EI) and the Government of Liberia, not to do business with the current NTAL Leadership until full compliance to the court’s ruling is achieved.

In closing, the CSNL remains committed to defending the rights of all Liberian workers and ensuring that justice is served for Mr. Samuel Johnson.