Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved a ₦1 billion appreciation fund for teachers in the state and ordered the immediate reinstatement of disengaged teachers who are below the statutory retirement age of 65.
Otti announced the measures on Monday in Umuahia while addressing teachers during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration, where he also directed the payment of outstanding salaries owed teachers affected by verification issues and 4,075 newly recruited teachers yet to receive their wages.
The governor said the ₦1 billion fund would be shared equally among all teachers in the state, regardless of when they joined the teaching service.
“I have instructed the Accountant-General of the State to share money equally to all of you.
“Whether you joined today or you joined 64 years ago, the total amount that I have — the amount for all of you — is one billion naira,” he said.
Otti also ordered that all salaries withheld due to verification challenges be paid by the end of October, alongside the outstanding wages of the 4,075 newly recruited teachers.
The governor further directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to immediately return to service all teachers disengaged from the system who are below 65 years.
“I want to give instructions from here to the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education that anybody who is less than 65, if they have been disengaged, you must return them back.
“You don’t require any further approval, I’ve given the approval from here — please bring all of them back, even if it is six months before retirement. Bring them back,” Otti ordered.
He said the decision was consistent with his administration’s commitment to fairness, transparency and adherence to government pronouncements.
On promotion arrears, the governor directed the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) to conclude the processing of teachers’ 2021 and 2022 promotions and harmonise the exercise with the State Head of Service for his approval.
Otti directed that the affected teachers be promoted before the end of October.
He also ordered the immediate payment of outstanding check-off dues, directing the Accountant-General to clear the arrears within seven days.
According to the governor, several of the concerns raised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had already been addressed, while others were being attended to by the administration.
Otti said his government’s investments in education were aimed at repositioning the sector as the foundation for Abia’s development, noting that the ongoing construction and development of smart schools across the state’s 17 local government areas was designed to prepare pupils for the future without abandoning conventional education.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to free and compulsory education and congratulated Abia pupils who excelled at the international schools debate championship in Qatar, as well as those who emerged among the top performers in the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said the theme of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration, “Standing with Teachers: Protecting the Profession, Advancing Citizens, and Serving Our Teachers,” highlighted the strategic role of teachers in nation-building.
Ubochi said the administration had implemented reforms covering teacher recruitment, professional development, improved school infrastructure, modern learning environments and the development of smart schools.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers also acknowledged improvements in the education sector, including increased budgetary allocation, mass recruitment, free and compulsory basic education, and the extension of teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
He, however, appealed to the state government to do more to improve teachers’ welfare and resolve outstanding challenges affecting the profession.
The celebration featured a march-past by teachers from across Abia State.
