Otti Orders Payment Of All Outstanding Entitlements Owed Teachers in Abia 

Directs reinstatement of teachers disengaged before 65 years, says education gets largest budget share

UMUAHIA — Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has directed immediate payment of all outstanding entitlements owed teachers in the state and announced a special Teachers’ Appreciation Fund for teachers.

Otti gave directives at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Umuahia.

The Governor, who described himself as a teacher at heart, assured that his government will continue to dedicate the largest portion of the budget to education, saying it is deliberate because education is the future of the society.

He said his administration is building smart schools across the 17 LGAs not to supplant the traditional education but to make the future of education available to children.

Otti also reaffirmed continuation of free and compulsory basic education policy and congratulated Abia pupils who performed well in competitions in Qatar and NECO examinations.

On welfare issues raised by the NUT Chairman, he directed Accountant General to ensure all outstanding NUT check-off dues are paid within seven days, and that teachers with withheld salaries due to verification issues, including newly recruited 4,075 teachers, be paid before end of October.

He also directed that 2021-2022 promotion exercise being handled by ASUBEB be harmonized with the Head of Service and brought for approval by Monday next week, with implementation before end of month.

On extension of retirement age to 65 years, Otti expressed surprise that the matter was still outstanding and ordered the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to reinstate any teacher disengaged before attaining 65 years, even if with six months left to retirement.

In his welcome address, the State NUT Chairman, Comrade Friday Madu, acknowledged the positive developments in the education sector under Governor Alex Otti and called for the resolution of outstanding welfare issues affecting teachers.

Madu said the Union has sustained a cordial relationship with the government, continued payment of TRS to retired members and advocacy for members’ welfare.

He appealed to the Governor for provision of functional utility vehicle to ease mobility constraints hindering union’s activities.

The theme for the 2026 celebration, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures” marks the 60th anniversary of 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning status of teachers.