Painting - sticky paing

Have some metal painted lockers that have become very sticky on the outside all over to the touch. What is causing this and what can be done (besides repainting) to correct?

Is this new paint that has never cured?
Or is it old paint with something sticky all over them?
If it is new paint, did it cure out and then become sticky?

Depending on what it is, it may just need to be cleaned with TSP or Dirtex or a commercial cleaner.

This is older paint (1 yr old) that has cured. Have tried cleaning with 409 but got a little worse, then tried a funiture polish that only held moderately. Do you know what is causing this? What are some details on the chemicals you suggested?

TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) and Dirtex are very strong cleaners, usually used before painting (among other applications), I noticed you stated you did not want to re-paint, I would test either of these products before useing them on the face of the lockers because they may dull the paint. You might also try useing a mild solvent like naptha or mineral spirits or even WD-40, that should not harm the paint. You might also post this question in the "cleaning" forum, I do not feel it is the paint causing this, be sure to give all the details like the location of the lockers (halls, showers,science class, etc), what they are used for, without actually seeing them it is hard to comment on what it could be and what will remove it.