The Court of Appeal in Kaduna State, heard an appeal challenging the four-day work and school week policy introduced in Kaduna State during the administration of former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
In a case No: CA/K/104/2023 Gloria Mabeiam Ballason v. Governor of Kaduna State & 3 Others seeks a declaration that the executive order which reduced official working days to four per week is unconstitutional.
The policy, which took effect on December 1, 2021, declared Fridays as work-free days for civil servants and schools across the state.
The appellant, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, argued that the policy has negatively affected workforce productivity, disrupted the education of school children, and created challenges for legal practice within the state. She urged the appellate court to set aside the earlier ruling of the lower court.
The three-member panel of justices—Onyekachi Aja Otisi, Abimbola Osarugue Obaseki-Adejumo, and Sybil Onyeji Nwaka-Gbagi—presided over the hearing.
Ballason represented herself as counsel for the appellant, while the Attorney General of Kaduna State, J.A. Kanyip, appeared with a team of lawyers including A.A. Aku, S.M. Gamaliel, M.P. Danjuma and Koni Tauna for the first to third respondents.
However, there was no legal representation for the fourth respondent, the Federal Ministry of Interior, despite confirmation that court processes had been duly served on the office.
Both parties adopted their written briefs and presented arguments before the court. While the appellant urged the court to allow the appeal, the respondents asked the panel to uphold the earlier judgment of the lower court and dismiss the case.
After hearing submissions from both sides, the court reserved judgment for a later date.
Cov/Shindong Bala
