Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has ordered the immediate re-engagement of teachers who were disengaged or retired at age 60 but are yet to attain the state's new retirement age of 65, approving a N1 billion Teachers Appreciation Fund and directing the payment of outstanding salaries, promotions and check-off dues in a sweeping intervention announced on Monday during the 2026 World Teachers' Day celebration in Umuahia.
The governor's directive came in response to demands presented by the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Madu ChukwuJekwu, who drew his attention to challenges facing teachers across the state. Otti expressed surprise that the matter of teachers who retired before the new age threshold had not been resolved, despite his administration's earlier approval of the extension of the retirement age from 60 to 65. "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," he said. He made the directive unconditional and immediate. "I have given the approval from here. Please bring all of them back. Even if it is six months before retirement, bring them back."
The N1 billion Teachers Appreciation Fund, the governor said, 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," Otti said. The fund is intended as a gesture of appreciation for the role teachers play in the state's development, and it represents one of the largest single allocations to teacher welfare in Abia's recent history.
Beyond the appreciation fund and the reinstatement order, Otti issued a series of directives aimed at resolving longstanding administrative challenges that have affected teachers' morale and financial stability. He directed that all teachers whose salaries had been delayed because of verification issues should be paid by the end of October. The 4,075 newly recruited teachers who had not received their salaries were also included in the directive, with the governor ordering that their wages be settled before the end of the month. On outstanding promotions for 2021 and 2022, Otti directed the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board to harmonise the process with the State Head of Service and submit it to him for approval, with the exercise to be completed by the end of October. He also ordered the immediate payment of outstanding check-off dues owed to teachers, giving the Accountant-General seven days to clear the arrears.
The interventions build on a series of education reforms the Otti administration has pursued since assuming office. The governor said his administration had earlier approved the extension of the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, a policy designed to retain experienced educators in the classroom and address the state's teacher shortage. The NUT chairman, ChukwuJekwu, commended the administration for its efforts to reposition the education sector, including the recruitment of more than 9,000 teachers, the payment of salary arrears owed by previous administrations, and the regular payment of salaries. He also cited the allocation of 20 per cent of the annual budget to education among the administration's achievements, while drawing the governor's attention to remaining challenges. "I am surprised that matter is still outstanding," Otti responded, before issuing the reinstatement directive.
The governor also spoke about the administration's broader vision for education, including the development of smart schools across the state's 17 local government areas. He said the initiative was intended to complement rather than replace conventional 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. He congratulated Abia pupils who excelled at the international schools debate championship in Qatar and those who performed strongly in the National Examinations Council examinations, describing their achievements as evidence that the state's investments in education were yielding results.
The directive to reinstate teachers below 65 is likely to have significant implications for the state's education workforce. Many teachers who were disengaged under the previous retirement age of 60 may have left service in the years before the policy was changed, and their return could help alleviate teacher shortages in public schools across the state. The governor's decision to include those with only six months left before retirement reflects a determination to maximise the available teaching capacity, even if only for a short period. The financial implications of the reinstatement, including the payment of salaries and arrears, will be borne by the state government, which has committed substantial resources to education in its budget.
The political context of the announcement is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the governorship and state assembly elections scheduled for February 6. Governor Otti, who was elected on the platform of the Labour Party in 2023, is expected to seek a second term, and his administration's record on education, workers' welfare and infrastructure will be central to his re-election campaign. The NUT's endorsement and the governor's responsiveness to its demands reflect a collaborative relationship that the administration will seek to leverage as the election approaches. The governor's decision to announce the N1 billion fund and the reinstatement order at a World Teachers' Day event underscores the political significance of teachers as a constituency and the administration's efforts to position itself as a friend of the education sector.
For the teachers of Abia State, the interventions represent both immediate financial relief and a measure of recognition for their contributions. The N1 billion fund, shared equally among all teachers, will provide a direct boost to household incomes at a time of economic hardship. The reinstatement of disengaged teachers will restore careers and provide opportunities for experienced educators to continue serving. The payment of salary arrears and the conclusion of outstanding promotions will address grievances that have lingered for years. As Otti put it, the decision was in line with his administration's commitment to fairness and transparency, and government must be consistent with its pronouncements. The coming weeks will determine whether the directives are implemented as announced and whether the teachers of Abia State experience the tangible improvements that the governor has promised.
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