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Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has approved a ₦1 billion special fund for teachers and directed the immediate return to service of educators who were retired under the former 60-year limit but are still below the current retirement age of 65.
The Governor announced the decisions on Monday at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day programme held at the Michael Okpara Event Centre in Umuahia.
The measures followed requests presented by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state, with Otti using the occasion to address several unresolved issues involving teachers’ welfare, salaries, promotions and retirement.
Otti said the ₦1 billion Teachers’ Appreciation Fund would be shared equally among eligible teachers as a mark of recognition for their contribution to the state’s education system. The payment is expected to be made in October.
He instructed the Accountant-General to ensure that every teacher receives an equal share of the fund, regardless of when the individual entered the state civil service.
The Governor also ordered the settlement of outstanding check-off dues within seven days, directing the Accountant-General to resolve any administrative issues responsible for the delay.
Otti further directed that salary arrears owed to teachers affected by verification challenges be cleared before the end of October.
The same deadline was given for the payment of outstanding salaries owed to the 4,075 recently recruited teachers who were yet to receive their wages.
On promotion arrears, the Governor tasked the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board with concluding the outstanding 2021 and 2022 promotion processes. He directed the board to work with the Office of the Head of Service, harmonise the necessary records and forward them for final approval.
The Governor also set the end of October as the deadline for completing the promotion exercise.
A major highlight of the event was Otti’s directive on teachers who were previously disengaged after reaching the old retirement age of 60 but had not attained 65.
He instructed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to identify and restore all affected teachers who are still under 65 years old.
According to Otti, the directive covers even those with only a few months left before reaching the new retirement threshold.
“I have given the approval from here. Please bring all of them back,” the Governor said, stressing that no additional authorisation would be required before the affected teachers are reinstated.
The Governor said the various decisions were part of his administration’s effort to ensure fairness and resolve longstanding issues affecting workers in the education sector.
He also highlighted the government’s Smart Schools programme, which is being implemented across the 17 local government areas of Abia.
Otti explained that the initiative was designed to introduce children to modern educational methods and technology while retaining conventional approaches to learning.
He said the administration would continue to pursue free and compulsory education and commended Abia students who performed well in WAEC and NECO examinations.
“We are just beginning. You will see more results as time goes on,” the Governor said.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said the state’s education reforms were focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning through recruitment, capacity building, better infrastructure and technology-driven initiatives.
Ubochi stressed that technology was being introduced to support teachers and improve their effectiveness rather than eliminate the role of educators.
The NUT Chairman in Abia State, Comrade Madu ChukwuJekwu, commended the government for its interventions in the education sector, including the recruitment of more than 9,000 teachers, payment of inherited salary arrears and the implementation of free and compulsory education.
He also cited the allocation of 20 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education as part of the administration’s efforts to improve the sector.
However, he used the occasion to highlight unresolved concerns affecting teachers, expressing optimism that the government would continue to respond to their demands.
The event was attended by government officials, elected representatives, local government leaders, education stakeholders and other dignitaries, including the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, and Labour Party senatorial candidate for Abia Central, Senator Darlington Nwokocha.
