DIPLOMAN TIMES

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced a package of measures for teachers, including a ₦1 billion Teachers’ Appreciation Allowance, recruitment and training initiatives, school improvements and action on outstanding employment and promotion issues.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has described teaching as an act of faith, patriotism and a labour of love, saying teachers invest in the future by helping pupils develop their capacity to think, ask questions, seek answers and create value. He spoke at the 2026 Teachers' Day celebration in Umuahia on October 5.

Otti used the address to reaffirm education as the administration's leading development priority. He said the state had consistently allocated one-fifth of its annual budgetary outlay to education over the last three budget cycles and identified teachers' welfare, motivated pupils, quality infrastructure, learning-support tools, age-relevant curricula, competition and reward for excellence as the administration's priorities.

The governor said Abia had recruited 9,469 new teachers to address staffing requirements following the introduction of free and compulsory basic education, with particular attention to subjects including science and mathematics. He also pointed to the development of smart schools and the retrofitting of existing schools, including construction of new structures, fencing and other infrastructure intended to accommodate growing enrolment and improve safety.

Otti acknowledged reports of delays in paying some newly recruited teachers and said he had directed relevant officials to accelerate processing of outstanding salary claims. He also ordered that payment irregularities arising from verification challenges be resolved before the end of October, while outstanding promotions for 2021 and 2022 were said to be receiving attention. The governor further directed implementation of an extension of teachers' retirement age to 65 and requested a report on implementation within two weeks.

The governor also announced plans for continuous teacher training and retraining and directed the Chief Information Officer to assess the cost of providing relevant IT devices, including smart tablets and laptops, for teachers in rural and urban schools. He ordered maintenance work in public schools and directed the deployment of Homeland Security Services personnel to help protect school property from vandalism. The education package presented on Teachers' Day therefore combined teacher welfare, staffing, infrastructure, technology, professional development and school security measures.