Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved a N1 billion Teachers’ Appreciation Fund for teachers across the State and ordered the immediate settlement of outstanding salaries, check-off dues and promotion arrears.
Otti announced the package on Monday, October 5, 2026, during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration at the Michael Okpara Event Centre in Umuahia, after receiving demands from the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Madu ChukwuJekwu.
The governor directed the Accountant-General of the State to distribute the N1 billion equally among teachers, describing the gesture as recognition of their contributions to the development of Abia and the upbringing of children.
Beyond the appreciation fund, Otti issued a series of deadlines for the resolution of outstanding welfare issues affecting teachers.
The governor directed the Accountant-General to settle all outstanding teachers’ check-off dues within seven days.
“If check-off dues have not been paid, maybe you have not provided the account because the money is sitting there,” Otti said.
He also ordered the immediate payment of salary arrears owed to 4,075 newly recruited teachers who were yet to receive their salaries.
According to him, the affected teachers must be paid before the end of October.
Otti further directed that teachers whose salaries were delayed because of verification issues must have their outstanding payments cleared by the end of the month.
On the outstanding 2021 and 2022 promotion exercises, Otti directed the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) to harmonise the process with the Head of Service and submit it to him for approval.
He insisted that the promotion exercise must be completed before the end of October.
The governor also intervened in the controversial retirement-age issue, ordering the reinstatement of teachers below 65 years who had been disengaged.
“I want to give instruction from this podium, Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, that anybody who is less than 65, if they have been disengaged, you must return them,” Otti said.
“I have given the approval from here. Please bring all of them back. Even if it is six months before retirement, bring them back. You don’t need further approval.”
The governor said his administration remained committed to fairness, transparency and sustained investment in the education sector.
He said the government was developing Smart Schools across Abia’s 17 local government areas as part of efforts to expose students to modern approaches to education.
“The whole idea is not to supplant traditional education, but to make the future of education available to our children. They can always have a choice,” he said.
Otti also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to free and compulsory education while congratulating Abia students who performed well in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
“We want to let you know that we are just beginning. You will see more results as time goes on,” he said.
Earlier, the NUT chairman, Madu ChukwuJekwu, commended the governor for what he described as significant improvements in the state’s education sector.
He cited the recruitment of more than 9,000 teachers, payment of salary arrears inherited from previous administrations, regular payment of salaries and the allocation of 20 per cent of the annual state budget to education.
ChukwuJekwu, however, highlighted outstanding challenges confronting teachers and appealed to the governor to address them.
He expressed confidence in Otti’s administration and pledged the continued support of Abia teachers.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, said the state’s education reforms covered teacher recruitment, professional development, improved school infrastructure, modern learning environments and the development of Smart Schools.
He stressed that technology was being deployed to strengthen teachers’ capacity rather than replace them.
The event was attended by elected officials, mayors, senior government appointees and other stakeholders, including the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, and Labour Party senatorial candidate for Abia Central, Senator Darlington Nwokocha.
