Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved a sum of ₦1 billion Teachers Appreciation Fund for teachers in the state and ordered the immediate re-engagement of those who were retired or disengaged at age 60 but have not attained the new retirement age of 65.
He announced the measures on Monday during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Umuahia, declaring that the ₦1bn fund would be shared equally among teachers in the state as appreciation for their contributions to education.
The governor also directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to return to service h affected teachers below 65 years, regardless of how close they are to retirement.
“I am surprised that that matter is still outstanding. I want to give instructions from this year, Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, that anybody who is less than 65 years of age, if they have been disengaged, you must return them back,” Otti said.“Please bring all of them back. Even if it is six months before retirement, bring them back.”
Otti also directed the payment of all outstanding check-off dues owed teachers within seven days, while salaries delayed because of verification issues should be paid by the end of October.
He ordered that outstanding salaries owed 4,075 newly recruited teachers who had not received their wages should also be settled before the end of October.
On outstanding promotions for 2021 and 2022, the governor directed the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board to harmonise the process with the State Head of Service and submit it for approval, with the exercise to be completed before the end of October.
Speaking on his administration’s education reforms, Otti said the development of Smart schools was intended to complement rather than replace conventional education.
“The whole idea is to make the future of education available to our children. They can always have a choice,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, said education remained a priority of the administration, while the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Madu ChukwuJekwu, commended the government for its interventions in the sector.
He cited the recruitment of more than 9,000 teachers, payment of salary arrears inherited from previous administrations and regular payment of salaries, as well as the allocation of 20 per cent of the annual budget to education.
He, however, drew the governor’s attention to other challenges confronting teachers in the state and expressed confidence that the administration would address them.
